Teams: Baseball: Schedule & Results

THREE-RUN SIXTH PROPELS AVERETT PAST JUMBOS, 5-3

COLLEGE BASEBALL FINAL SCORE
Averett 5, Tufts 3

At Danville, VA
Sunday, March 16, 2008

Game Box Score

DANVILLE, Va. -- The Averett University baseball team defeated the Jumbos of Tufts University on Sunday by a 5-3 final score. Excellent relief pitching and solid hitting propelled the Cougars to their tenth win on Owen-Fulton Field. Tufts dropped to 0-2 on their spring trip.

After three innings of solid pitching, Tufts (0-2) caught up to Cougar (10-14) starter Jon Walker in the fourth inning. Three hits, including a two-run triple by freshman CF Ian Goldberg (Lake Forest, IL), combined with a fielder�s choice and a sacrifice fly by sophomore 3B Caleb Sims (Burlington, MA) scored three runs for the Jumbos, to give them the early lead.

Averett answered in the bottom of the fourth against Tufts starter Jason Protano (Milford, MA). The hosts scored one run after a leadoff double from third baseman Jacob Waller. The score remained 3-1 in favor of Tufts until the bottom of the sixth inning, when the Cougars struck again.

Four hits added with one Jumbo error allowed Averett to take the lead at 4-3. A double from Jake Loye scored Eric Sibrizzi and Waller, and then a single from Ken Kellum scored Loye. Protano would depart after the inning, striking out 10 in his peformance.

Averett was able to tack one more security run in the eight inning when Waller reached on a walk and eventually scored on a passed ball.

The Jumbos were led offensively by sophomore 2B Alex Grzymala (East Setauket, NY) with a 3 for 4 day at the plate. Senior RF Steve Ragonese (Upper Saddle River, NJ) had two hits and scored a run.

Loye led the Cougars with two hits, two RBIs and one run, Sibrizzi added two hits with one run and Waller had three runs scored. Travis Reynolds came in to relieve Walker in the sixth inning, and came away with the win. Chase Hall closed the ninth inning for the save. Freshmen Ed Bernstein (Foxborough, MA) and Jack Dilday (Long Beach, CA) pitched scoreless relief stints.

Tufts plays two on St. Patrick's Day, facing SUNY Purchase at Guilford at 10 am and then facing host Guilford at 3 pm. Averett will return to action on Tuesday when they face Roanoke College in Salem, VA. The first game is scheduled to start at 1:00 pm.

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