Rocky Mount, N.C. - The NCWC baseball program is off to a 9-1 start to the season after a 3-game sweep of Averett University this weekend at Bauer Field. Sophomore Nate Gardner batted .643 with seven RBIs in the series and turned in solid pitching performance on Sunday, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning.

GAME 1: Bishops 9, Cougars 2
Senior Ryan Grant moved to 2-0 on the hill after tossing six shutout innings and allowing just three hits with six strikeouts. Offensively, the Bishops plated five runs over the first two innings, highlighted by sophomore Trey Croom's first homer of the season, a 2-run shot to left-center. Gardner and freshman Brad Pennington each went 3-for-5 at the plate, while sophomore Brandon Wheat and senior Luis Palencia both finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.

GAME 2: Bishops 7, Cougars 2
Tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Logan Andrews drove home the eventual game-winning run with an RBI-groundout. Wheat added an insurance run in the seventh, while the eighth frame saw Pennington rip an RBI-double and later score on a Gardner single. Senior hurler T.J. Wilkie allowed just one hit in 5.1 innings of work, allowing both runs en route to a no-decision. Freshman Noah Shrock tossed a perfect 2.1 frames in relief to pick up his first collegiate win.

GAME 3: Bishops 8, Cougars 3
Sunday's finale was dominated by Gardner both offensively and defensively. The hard-throwing righty struck out a career-best 10 batters and allowed just one hit and one earned run over six complete. He exited with the score tied 3-3, then provided the eventual game-winning hit with a 2-run single in the seventh that put NCWC on top for good. He finished with three hits and four RBIs on the day, while Croom and junior Caleb Narron also ripped three hits apiece. Narron broke the game open in with a bases-clearing triple in the seventh. Freshman Michael Smith (2-0) picked up his second win in relief.

Wesleyan continues conference play next weekend with a 3-game set versus William Peace University in Holly Springs. Saturday's doubleheader is slated for a 1:00pm start.