Baseball Drops One-Run Decision to Averett

Danville, PA (3/18/09). — With two outs and the bases loaded, Averett reliever Michael Mothershead induced a pop-up and a groundout to help the Cougars escape with a 4-3 victory over Montclair State University on Wednesday at Owen-Fulton Field.

Averett starting pitcher Jacob Waller had scattered eight hits through the first eight innings and was only hurt by a pair of solo home runs by Kevin Bond (Cedar Grove, NJ / Cedar Grove). However, Montclair State (2-6) put together three hits in the ninth inning, including an RBI single by Jay Bionde (Pompton Plains, NJ / Pequannock). The Cougars (10-12-1) intentionally walked Bond to load the bases with one out.

With two left-handed batters due up, Averett coach Ed Fulton went to his bullpen for the left-handed Mothershead, who closed out the game and earned the save.

Averett trailed 1-0 early thanks to a one-out home run by Bond in the first inning, but the Cougars tied the game in the bottom of the third thanks to a Montclair State error. With James Carter on second base and Cliff Hodges on first, Adam Higgins' one-out bunt was fielded by the catcher, Bond, who threw the ball away. The mishap allowed Carter to score from second.

The Cougars took a 2-1 lead on a Kyle Newcomb RBI single to left, which scored Eric McGuire from third. Averett kept that lead until Bond's second homer tied the game in top of the eighth.

Averett answered in the bottom half of the inning with RBI singles from Newcomb and Brian Knowles.

Waller struck out seven to improve to 4-0 on the season. Daniel Nodarse (Rutherford, NJ / Rutherford) pitched six solid innings allowing five hits and two unearned runs, striking out six and walking one. Zachary Brown (Green Village, NJ / Morristown) took the loss (0-1).

Newcomb finished 3-for-4 at the plate, while McGuire went 2-for-3. Ed Kloepping (Pennsville, NJ / Pennsville) was 3-for-5 for the Red Hawks while Kevin Miller (Bloomfield, NJ / Bloomfield) had two hits. Montclair State outhit Averett, 11-8.

Article Created:
March 23 2009
Article Last Edited:
March 23 2009