DANVILLE, Va. - The SU baseball team rallied from a four run deficit to tie Saturday's Dixie Conference contest with host Averett at 7-7, but the Cougars scored one run in each of their last two at-bats to take a 9-7 victory at Owen-Fulton Field.

Averett (20-11, 5-6) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three and led 6-2 heading into the fifth, but Shenandoah rallied with three runs in the sixth and two more one inning later.

The Hornets (8-17-1, 3-8) once again used the long ball to get back into the contest. Junior Mike Arvizo (Palmdale, Calif./Antelope Valley) hit the first of two home runs in the sixth to get the rally started, and then SU combined three more hits and an AU error to score two additional runs.

Averett replaced starting pitcher Gene Yost to begin the seventh; it didn't help as junior Josh Bosley (Oakland, Md./Garrett CC) greeted reliever Kenny Payne with a home run and then Arvizo tied it one out later with a solo shot to left.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Averett answered with one run in its half of the seventh off of freshman Gerry Sasse (Philadelphia, Pa./Penn Charter) to regain the lead for good.

This loss means that SU will be the eighth seed at next week's Dixie Conference Tournament and either face Ferrum or Christopher Newport in the Wednesday's first round.

A complete box score and play by play for this game can be found at http://www.su.edu/athletics/bb/2003/041203.htm

SU and Averett complete their weekend series with a 1:00 game on Sunday.