By Drew Wilson, Averett SID

BURLINGTON, N.C. - — No. 1/1 Shenandoah University held off No. 4 seed Averett University for a 2-1 victory in the USA South Conference Tournament Friday afternoon at Burlington Athletic Stadium.

Shenandoah (29-2) advances to play in a matchup between the two undefeated teams left in the tournament later Friday evening. The Hornets will face off with No. 2 seed Christopher Newport University at approximately 8 p.m.

Averett (21-18) is scheduled to play a team to be determined at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Shenandoah starter Greg Van Sickler (9-1) gave up one run on two hits in the top of the first and then held the Cougars in check the rest of the way as the senior All-America held AU without another hit until the eighth inning.

In the eighth, Jason Carter and James Fiorella had a back-to-back singles with two outs, and Adam Higgins drew a walk to load the bases. Van Sickler, however, got out of the jam by inducing a ground ball that led to a forceout at third base.

Van Sickler gave up a two-out double to Kyle Newcomb in the ninth inning and Hornets skipper again turned to junior Kyle Scallion to put out the fire.

Scallion needed just three pitches to register a strikeout and earn his second save of the tournament. 

Averett scored the opening run in the first when Higgins led off with a single and scored two batters later on a Jordan Kidd double down the right field line.

Shenandoah answered in the bottom of the second, tying the game on Nick Beall's RBI single down the left field line that scored Cory Nelson. The Hornets scored the final run of the contest in the third; Mike Minch walked and Jake Pendergraft singled before Van Sickler helped himself with an RBI single up the middle to score Minch.

Averett kept the SU from scoring the rest of the way by getting out of bases-loaded jams in the sixth and eighth innings.

Beall led Shenandoah at the plate with a 3-for-4 day while Pendergraft added a pair of hits.