Softball vacates win over Averett

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Huntingdon softball team was forced to vacate a win over Averett University on Friday, due to a protest filed by Averett over the use of artificial noisemakers by a Huntingdon player during the game.

The Lady Hawks defeated then-unbeaten and 21st-ranked Averett 3-2 on March 29 with a RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Between the top and bottom of the seventh inning, Averett head coach Bren Taylor made a protest based on rule 5.11.1 concerning the use of artificial noisemakers and rule 13.6.2 concerning the improper use of equipment, such as the banging of bats and balls in the dugout.

Game officials allowed the game to continue without the ejection of the player in question and Averett played the bottom of the seventh inning "under protest". In the bottom of the seventh inning, the player in question was not involved in the outcome of the game.

The protest was upheld by the NCAA and on Friday the USA South Athletic Conference declared the game a "no contest."

After Friday's sweep of Covenant, Huntingdon's record stands at 14-11 overall and 9-6 in the USA South. Following Averett's split with Ferrum on Friday, the 17th ranked Cougars are now 26-1-1 overall and 16-1 in the USA South.