DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University softball team defeated Salem College 3-0 to open Friday's doubleheader, while the second game ended in a 4-4 tie when the game was stopped after five innings due to darkness.

 In Game 1, Averett (3-0-1) scattered most of its eight hits and left a total of nine runners on base but managed to put together a solid third inning. Junior Taylor Dix reached with a one-out single, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. That set up sophomore Jessica Long's sacrifice fly to center, allowing Dix to score and give Averett a 1-0 advantage. Freshman Laura Young followed with a double. Another Salem wild pitch moved freshman pinch-runner Olivia Cooper to third, and she later scored on junior Mary Beth Smith's RBI single up the middle.

In the bottom of the fourth, Averett added its third run when junior Jessye Crews scored on a wild pitch in the dirt that got away to the backstop.

Smith (2-0) finished off Salem (0-1-1), striking out five while allowing only four hits. Smith and sophomore Samantha Hall paced the offense with two hits apiece.

Unlike the first game, Salem took charge of the second game in the fourth inning. Kiersten Garner's double to right-center brought Briana Crumley home to cut Averett's lead to 2-1. Immediately after, Brianna Morris doubled to left center to score Crumley and tie the game at 2-2. Still in the top of the fourth with bases loaded and no outs, Lauryn Smith's sacrifice fly added another run to put the Spirits ahead 3-2 for their first lead of the afternoon.

Salem led 4-3 going into the bottom of the fifth, but Smith answered as she drove in Dix to knot the game at 4-4. The Cougars had an opportunity to go ahead but couldn't capitalize thanks to a great play by Salem. With one out and two runners on second and third base, Hall bunted the ball a few feet to the left but was thrown out at first base. On the throw to first, Smith broke home only to be tagged out on a perfect throw back to the catcher, Jennifer Vitarelli, for what turned out to be the final out of the game. The umpires halted play moments later.

Smith and Hall each had two hits in Game 2 as well. Hall also finished with four stolen bases over the two games.  

Averett returns to Cougar Field on Wednesday to host Roanoke College in a doubleheader at 2 p.m.