GREENSBORO, N.C. – Matt Mitchell threw seven strong innings and Jimbo Newcomb hit a two-out, two-run double in the fifth to help visiting Averett University to a 4-3 baseball win over Guilford College Wednesday.
Chris Moyer earned a save after the Quakers (1-2) put their first two batters on in the ninth inning against reliever Cody Beaver. Moyer entered and Guilford’s Zack Montalbano moved the runners up with a sacrifice for the inning’s first out. Ben Esser followed with an RBI groundout and Moyer retired Justin Pittman on a fly ball to center field to end the game.
Pittman’s RBI single in the second gave the hosts a 1-0 lead that rookie Justin Morrison (1-1) carried into the fifth inning before Newcomb’s go-ahead hit. The Cougars (3-1) tacked on another run in the sixth on Jordan Kidd’s run-scoring single.
A Montalbano fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth plated an unearned run and brought Guilford to within, 3-2, but Averett added an insurance run in the ninth on Jason Carter’s two-out, RBI single.
Mitchell scattered five hits over seven innings and yielded one earned run. Newcomb finished with two of Averett’s seven hits.
Pittman and Kent Peterson both had two hits for the Quakers, who return to action Saturday (2/18) at noon against visiting Maryville (Tenn.) College.