GREENSBORO, N.C. — Averett University baseball dropped its season-opening game 9-3 at Guilford College on Wednesday afternoon.

Guilford (1-2) broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning on Herc Ingels' bases-loaded RBI single. The Quakers added another run that frame with a sacrifice fly to go ahead by two.
After Guilford added two more runs in the seventh, Averett (0-1) trimmed its deficit to 6-3 on senior Timothy Coston's RBI double to left-center field, which scored senior Kevin Alvarez. Guilford responded with three insurance runs in the eighth to pull away.

The Quakers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third with the help of an error, but Averett tied the game in its next at-bat. Senior Nic Futrell drove in Alvarez with a single to center field for the Cougars' first run of the season. Averett had an opportunity to take the lead in the top for the fifth when the Cougars loaded the bases with one out. Guilford, however, got out of the jam by inducing an inning-ending double play. That proved to be costly for the Cougars.

An RBI triple gave Guilford a 2-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth before Averett knotted it again at 2-2 in the top of the sixth. Freshman B.J. Purnell burned the center fielder, who dropped the fly ball to allow senior Chatham Currie to score from second base.

Senior J.T. Crowder finished with two if Averett's seven hits. Coston and freshman Kyle Vidano each added a double. Coston (0-1) took the loss on the mound despite giving up two runs — only one earned — on seven hits in five innings of work.

Averett and Guilford were scheduled to play on Tuesday, but wet field conditions forced the two teams to push the game back a day.

Averett opens USA South Conference play on Friday at Greensboro College with a 4 p.m. contest to begin a three-game series with the Pride.