Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
Senior Day Photo Gallery (Coming soon)


DANVILLE, Va. — The rain held off just enough as Averett and N.C. Wesleyan College split a doubleheader on Sunday at Cougar Field. The Cougars won the opener 8-2, but N.C. Wesleyan held off Averett 3-2 in Game 2.

Averett (6-15, 4-6 USA South) gave freshman right-hander Nicole DeFilippo plenty of run support early as the Cougars jumped out to a 3-1 lead after two innings. Averett doubled their run total in the third inning with a two-RBI double by sophomore Heather Carnes and an RBI triple by senior Kaci Bentley.

An inning later, the Cougars' offense came through again. Junior Jessica Maldonado slammed the first pitch of the fourth inning over the fence in left-center field. Senior Hayley Brooks singled home another insurance run later that inning to put the Cougars ahead 8-1, which turned out to be plenty of runs against the Battling Bishops (11-10, 4-6 USA South) .

Averett pounded out 12 hits, which included a 4-for-4 performance by freshman Lauren Daniel. Daniel also drove in two runs and scored two runs.

In Game 2, the runs didn't come as easily for the Cougars. N.C. Wesleyan built a 2-0 lead while holding Averett scoreless through the first five innings. The Cougars finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth as Bentley knocked a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2.

The Bishops, however, got a leadoff double from Catherine Wells in the top of the seventh inning. Wells later scored on Carla Pridgen's RBI single up the middle to put N.C. Wesleyan in front 3-2.

Averett had one last opportunity to strike in the bottom half of the inning, but a solid defensive play helped stop the Cougars. N.C. Wesleyan shortstop Kate Braun snagged what might have been a leadoff double to the left-center gap off the bat of freshman Jenna Rudder. However, the line out to Braun left the bases empty for Maldonado, who singled to left field. Maldonado moved to second on a groundout and the Cougars couldn't get her home to tie the game.

The games were originally scheduled to start at 1 p.m., but rain forced the teams to move the game time up to 11:15 a.m. Rain soaked the field for about an hour before the first pitch, but the weather held off until just after the finish of Game 2.

Prior to the games, Averett honored its three seniors — Bentley, Brooks and Heather Trainum.

The Cougars host Greensboro College on Wednesday for a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader at Cougar Field.