ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — Averett University baseball picked up a conference road win, beating N.C. Wesleyan College 3-1 in the opener of their three-game series Saturday afternoon at Bauer Field.

Averett senior Taylor Davis (1-0) kept N.C. Wesleyan (2-6, 2-5 USA South) in check all day, striking out 12 while pitching a complete game. His performance on the mound got Averett (3-3, 2-2 USA South) out of several jams. After jumping on top of the Battling Bishops 1-0 in the top of the first on junior Drew Evans' RBI single, a Justin DiSanto double down the left field line put a runner in scoring position for N.C. Wesleyan. After a sacrifice bunt and walk put runners on first and third for the Battling Bishops, Davis got J.J. Rodriguez to pop up to the catcher, and then struck out James Kornegay to end the inning.

Leading 1-0 going into the top of the sixth inning, Averett senior Kevin Alvarez led off the frame with a single to left field and senior Timothy Coston followed with a walk. Senior Nic Futrell doubled, bringing home Alvarez, making it 2-0. Averett added another insurance run when senior Chatham Currie's RBI groundout brought Coston home, giving the Cougars a 3-0 advantage.

N.C. Wesleyan, however, threatened in the bottom of the sixth when a pair of singles put runners on first and second with two outs. Yet, Davis was once again solid, getting Rodriguez to strike out to end the inning. N.C. Wesleyan threatened once again in the bottom of the ninth when a pair of singles and a wild pitch put runners on second and third. Kaelan Jacobs' grounder to second base scored a run, cutting Averett's lead to 3-1. Davis, though, got James Lovett to ground out to second base, ending the game and giving the Cougars the USA South victory.

Averett returns to action on Sunday when it takes on N.C. Wesleyan in a doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m.