Danville, Va. - The Battling Bishop baseball team opened up USA South Conference play over the weekend with a series win at Averett University. Wesleyan took the first two games by 8-2 and 10-9 scores, but the Bishops were unable to sweep as the Cougars won the finale 8-5.

Junior Ryan Grant (3-0) continued his impressive start to the season with complete-game performance in Friday's opener. Grant allowed two runs on seven hits with ten Ks over nine complete. Offensively, newcomers Trey Croom and Tony Sanchez racked up three hits apiece, with Croom and fellow freshman Brandon Wheat driving in a pair of runs each.

Game two was a 17-inning marathon that was halted late Saturday due to darkness. After twice missing chances to end the game with runs in the 11th and 15th innings, play picked up on Sunday in the 16th with the game tied 7-7. The Bishops wasted no time getting on the board, plating three runs in their second at-bat thanks to RBIs by Justin DiSanto and Logan Andrews.

Despite another Cougar rally, senior Ciro Norzagaray (1-0) was able to close out the win on the mound -- his first of the season. Norzagaray also faired well at the plate, tallying a trio of hits and two RBIs. Wheat and senior Kaelan Jacobs also ripped three hits apiece.

The finale saw AU avoid the sweep with an 8-5 victory. Norzagaray and fellow senior James Lovett each went 4-for-5, with Lovett blasting his fourth homerun of the season. Lovett batted .600 in the series (6-for-10) with a trio of runs driven in.

Wesleyan (10-4) continues play on Monday when the Bishops host a non-conference contest with the University of Mary Washington. First pitch is slated for 2:00pm at Bauer Field.