AVERETT HANDS BASEBALL TIGERS FIRST LOSS OF SEASON, 7-3

Game Box Score

DANVILLE, VA (February 23, 2005)—Averett University scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning en route to defeating Hampden-Sydney, 7-3, Wednesday afternoon.  The loss is the first of the season for the Tigers (4-1), while Averett improves to 3-4 on the year. 

Hampden-Sydney got on the scoreboard in the first inning after an RBI double by senior second baseman Mike Clark (Kinsdale, VA/Washington and Lee).  The Cougars came back to tie the game in the fourth on Ken Kellum’s sacrifice fly. 

The flood gates then opened for Averett in the sixth inning as the team scored five unearned runs, including one on a hit batter and another on a wild pitch, while John Stearrett ripped a two-run triple and Joseph Garry had an RBI single as the Cougars took a 6-1 lead. 

The Cougars added their seventh run in the seventh inning as Ken Kellum picked up his third RBI of the day on a single up the middle to score J.T. Hyler.  Down 7-1, the Tigers mustered two runs in their half of the eighth as Tommy Burk (Leesburg, VA/Loudon County) singled home Chris Padgett (Williamsburg, VA/Jamestown), while Josh Davidson (Lynchburg, VA/Heritage) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded forcing home Mike Clark, but the team could not forge any more runs. 

Tiger starter Mike Hall (Leonardtown, MD/St. Mary’s-Ryken) took the loss after surrendering just one earned run and four hits in five and one-third innings of work.  Meanwhile, junior Jayson Hanky (Richmond, VA/Benedictine) allowed two hits and two unearned runs in two-thirds of an inning, while freshman Daniel Hadra (Mechanicsville, VA/Atlee) gave up one run and three hits over the final two innings.

 Averett’s Paul Saunders earned the victory as he worked six and two-thirds innings and allowed one run on four hits while striking out five and walking one. 

Chris Padgett and Mike Clark paced the Tigers at the plate as each player recorded two hits in five at bats, while Pierce Steinruck and John Stearrett each had a pair of hits for the Cougars. 

Hampden-Sydney returns to action Saturday as the team hosts Seton Hill College in a doubleheader starting at 12 pm at Yank Bernier Field.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-