Danville, Va. -- Sophomore outfielder Carrson Atkins went 3-for-4 with a run scored, and the pitching staff struck out 11 batters as the University of Lynchburg baseball team got into the win column for the first time on the 2020 season with its 2-1 win over Averett. 

The Hornets (1-2) recorded six hits on the day, with half coming from Atkins. Graduate student Kinston Carson started on the mound and hit in the second spot in order as he and freshman Dylan Fisher drove in Lynchburg's two runs on the day.

In the top of the second with one away, Atkins singled and later advanced to third on a double down the line from junior Parker Shaffer. With runners on first and third, Fisher grounded out to second, driving in Atkins and moving Shaffer to third putting the Hornets up 1-0. 

On the very next play, Carson singled to right and drove in Shaffer to give Lynchburg a 2-0 advantage early on. 

In the third inning, the Cougars (0-5) got a one-out single from Nate Tuck, who later stole second and scored on a single from Jason Maggs, cutting the Hornets' lead to 2-1. 

After the lone Averett run in the third inning, the Lynchburg pitching staff stymied the Cougar hitters and allowed just one hit over the last six frames.

Hornet pitchers combined for 11 Ks as Carson (1-0) recorded the first four and allowed one run on four hits over three innings of work. Junior Santiago Meneses recorded his first save of the 2020 campaign, striking out the three in two innings of scoreless relief.

Lynchburg baseball will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 22 as the Hornets travel to Fayetteville, N.C., to compete in the Methodist Invitational and take on the Valiants of Manhattanville College in Game 1 with first pitch set for 11 a.m.

--LYN--