LAGRANGE, Ga. — Senior Nic Futrell's five RBI's helped Averett University defeat LaGrange College 16-7 on Monday afternoon to help the Cougars take two of three in the series.
 
Averett (11-6, 8-4 USA South) used a big third inning to post an early advantage over LaGrange (6-12, 6-9 USA South) in the rubber match game. A one-out single by senior J.T. Crowder put a runner on first for the Cougars. Averett's next batter, senior Kevin Alvarez, walked to put runners on first and second base and Futrell brought Crowder and Alvarez home with a two-run triple to right field. Futrell scored moments later on senior Timothy Coston's RBI single to left-center to give Averett a four-run lead. After a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Cougars, freshman B.J. Purnell drew another walk, scoring Coston on the play, giving Averett a 5-0 lead.
 
The Panthers managed to keep the Cougars off the board in the fourth and fifth, but Averett's offense came alive again in the sixth, putting up four runs to take control. Freshman Kyle Vidano reached first on a one-out single and stole second to get into scoring position. Averett's next batter, Crowder, reached on a walk and senior Taylor Davis knocked an RBI single to left-center to plate Vidano and give the Cougars a six-run cushion. Alvarez's two-run double down the left field line added two more runs for Averett and Futrell once again came through for the Cougars with an RBI double to right-center to give Averett a 9-0 advantage.
 
LaGrange had an opportunity to cut its deficit down in the seventh when a walk, single, and batter hit by a pitch loaded the bases. However, junior right-hander pitcher Joshua Hatcher struck out the Panthers' Alex Murfin to end the threat.
 
Averett struck big again in the top of the eighth, posting five runs to pull ahead by double-digits. The Cougars used a two-run double by Futrell and a two-run single by Coston to go up 13-0. Vidano's RBI double to right-center gave Averett a commanding 14-run lead. However, LaGrange struck back in the bottom of the eighth with four runs to cut its deficit down to ten. Striking back, the Cougars used a two-run top of the ninth to give them a 16-4 lead. Once again, though, the Panthers answered with three runs in the bottom of the ninth to get within nine, but that's as close as they got as junior Brandon Goff got LaGrange's Jackson Patrick to strikeout to end the game.
 
Averett banged out a season-high of 19 hits to go along with its season-high of 16-runs. Futrell paced the Cougars with five RBI's and four hits, while Coston chipped in with four hits and four RBI's of his own. Davis added three hits along with driving in two runs on the afternoon. Crowder banged out three hits and Alvarez recorded three RBI's in the victory, and junior Drew Evans brought in two runs as well for Averett.
 
Hatcher (3-0) was solid in seven innings of work, not allowing a run, striking out six, and scattering five hits in the victory.
 
Averett returns home Tuesday to host Tufts University at 1:30 p.m. at Owen-Fulton Field.