VIRGINIA BEACH -- Kelly Keys connected for a single in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday to drive home the game-winning run to give Virginia Wesleyan College a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Averett University at Marlins Field.

It was the only hit of the game for Keys (Manassas/Osbourn Park), who helped the Marlins to a thrilling 3-2 win in the second game. VWC posted a 5-0 win in the opener.

Keys' belt scored rookie Courtney Bogan (Round Hill/Woodgrove), who led off the inning with a single down the left field line.  She stole second and moved to third when junior Tori Higginbotham (Glen Allen/J.R. Tucker) ripped a sacrifice fly into center field.

Averett (4-4) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning of the game after Taylor Dix (Danville/Bartlett Yancey) led off with a double and scored on an ensuing two-bagger by Jenna Rudder (Danville/Tunstall).

But, VWC (4-2) tied the game in the bottom of the inning, which started with a singled to left center by sophomore Kristina Karagiorgis (Ashburn/Briar Woods).  She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by rookie Taylor Galvin (Virginia Beach/Kempsville) and scored by junior Lindsey Inzana (Chesapeake/Grassfield) cracked a single up the middle.

Averett managed a single in the top of the seventh, but nothing else.  That opened the door for Virginia Wesleyan, which led off with the Bogan single.

Karagiorgis (2-1) earned the pitching victory, working the complete game and striking out six batters.  She allowed two walks, scattered four hits and gave up two earned runs.  April Costa (Hope Mills, N.C./South View) absorbed her first loss in three games in the young season, also working a complete game.  She fanned five, walked two and allowed three earned runs, as well as seven hits to seven different Marlins.  Rookie Taylor Greenfield (Seattle, Wash./Bainbridge) belted a double for VWC.

Greenfield, Higginbotham and Keys led Virginia Wesleyan hitting in the opener with two hits each.  Higginbotham ripped a three-run homer and a double, and Keys and senior Chelsea Henline (Chesapeake/Great Bridge) added a double each.

Averett was limited to only singles by Kayla Renn (Poquoson/Poquoson) and Amy Hamlett (Chase City/Bluestone) by the combination of an alert VWC defense and the pitching of junior Mackenzie Creech (Hillsborough, N.C./Orange). Creech pitched the distance and struck out five batters.  She allowed only the two singles.

Virginia Wesleyan jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, which began with a Higginbotham double to left center. Keys scored her with a double to right and scored later on a single by Galvin.

The Marlins tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second inning off only two hits.  Greenfield opened the inning with a single, but was only several plays later and Andrea Shannon (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) boarded base on a fielder's choice.  Bogan followed her to base after she was hit by a pitch and both runners scored when Higginbotham ripped a two-out, three-run homer over the left field fence.

Averett saw its first 17 batters retired in order, before Hamlett singled in the sixth.  Renn produced her single in the fourth, but was out two plays later on a double play.

McKenzie Weaver (Fayetteville, N.C./Jack Britt) took the pitching loss and was followed in the circle by Lisa Mitro (Richmond/Mills E. Godwin) and Hamlett.  The trio combined to give up eight hits, a walk and five earned runs.

Virginia Wesleyan returns to competition on Friday, March 1, at Princess Anne Park in the annual Beach Blast tournament.  The Marlins will take on Pennsylvania's Neumann University Knights at 2 p.m. and West Virginia's Bethany College Bison at 4 p.m.

--AMDG--