Mary Baldwin picked up its first conference victory of the season with an 8-5 victory Sunday over Averett.

MBU jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Noah Kessler singled and stole second. Colby Cheatham reached on a walk to put two runners on and both runners moved up on Jared Mayhew's groundout. Chase Davis then lined a two-run single to right-center for a 2-0 Squirrels' lead.

After Averett scored two runs in the top of the second to tie the score, Mary Baldwin regained the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second. Michael Barber reached on an error to lead off the inning and Jacob Cude followed with a bunt single. Barber rounded second and headed to third on Cude's bunt and scored when the throw to third was wide of the mark. With Cude on second base, Michael Robertson delivered a run-scoring single for a 4-2 MBU lead.

The Squirrels padded the cushion with three more runs in the third inning. Hensley singled to start the inning and Davis walked. Mayhew reached on a fielder's choice with Henlsey scoring on the play on a throwing error. With runners on second and third, MBU added a run on Barber's safety squeeze bunt, making the score 6-2. Mayhew then moved to third on a wold pitch and, with the infield in, Cude singled up the middle to make it 7-2.

Averett chipped away at the margin and pulled to within 7-5 before the Squirrels added a run in the botom of the seventh. Cheatham reached on a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Hensley then doubled to center, scoring Cheatham to push the lead to 8-5.

Kyle Measell worked 6.1 innings on the mound for the Squirrels, leaving with the bases full in the seventh. Joseph Castrilli came out of the bullpen and worked out of the jam, allowing just one run to preserve the MBU lead.

After Bradley Warren pitched a scoreless eighth, Ty Webster came on to pitch the ninth and worked a 1-2-3 inning to earn the save.

Measell got the win, allowing four earmed runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings.