DANVILLE, Va. - Shenandoah University received a pair of strong pitching performances and got some timely hitting Saturday afternoon to open its 2005 USA South Conference baseball schedule with a doubleheader sweep over host Averett University.

Shenandoah (4-2 overall, 2-0 USA South) assured itself of a series victory with 4-3 and 7-2 wins over Averett (3-7, 0-2).

Sophomore Jason Burgess got his second victory in as many starts this season by giving up just three hits in 4.2 innings of work. After freshmen David Frelin and Drew Dobbins got SU to the seventh, junior Nick Sborzgot the final three outs of the contest to earn his second save of the spring. Sborz struck out Jeremy Rankin looking to end the game.

The game one offense was provided by junior Adam Kuchemba and sophomores Daniel Ziccardy and Steven Todd. Each had two hits apiece for the Hornets while Kuchemba got a two-run second started with a double down the leftfield line. He eventually scored when Ziccardy safety-squeezed him home on a bunt to third.

Game two was knotted at 2-2 when Shenandoah busted open the contest with a three-run eighth. Coach Kevin Anderson's club combined two hits with three AU errors to provide junior Gerry Sasse all the offense he would need the rest of the way.

Sasse evened his season record at 1-1 by giving up two hits on nine hits and one walk in 8.0 innings. He also struck out four before turning it over to Sborz to finish the contest. Sborz gave up just a one-out infield single in working the scoreless ninth.

Freshman Adam Duckett was 4 for 5 with an RBI, classmate Bobby Collier added two hits in five at-bats and Ziccardy had a game high two RBI on a groundout and a sacrifice bunt. Collier also scored two runs.

Game 1 Box Score/Play by Play 

Game 2 Box Score/Play by Play 

These two teams complete the season series Sunday afternoon with a single game beginning at 1:00.