DANVILLE, Va. — The "Comeback Cougars" did it again on Saturday. Down a run, Averett University rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 6-5 walk-off win to clinch a doubleheader sweep of Huntingdon College at Owen-Fulton Field. In the process, Averett also moved into first place in the USA South Conference standings.

Averett (14-6, 10-4 USA South) used a big inning to win the opener 13-7, then came from behind to edge Huntingdon (14-8, 13-7 USA South), which entered the day atop the conference standings.

For the fourth time this season, Averett found a way to win in the bottom of the ninth or later thanks to its Game 2 heroics. After Huntingdon seized the momentum by overcoming a 4-1 deficit, the Cougars had their backs against the wall with only three outs to spare. Junior Nic Futrell drew a leadoff walk and moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt. Junior Drew Evans followed with a single to the right side, putting runners on the corners. Sophomore Hunter Ashworth dropped down a safety squeeze bunt that dribbled down the first base line. Huntingdon pitcher Patrick Kucera fielded it and fired home, but Futrell slid underneath the tag at the plate to tie the game at 5-5. Senior Chatham Currie then singled through the left side and Evans scored from second on another close play at home to give Averett a thrilling victory.

After Huntingdon and Averett traded a run in the second inning, the Cougars took a 3-1 lead in the third and increased it to 4-1 with another run in the fourth. Averett junior right-hander T.J. Viracola cruised until the sixth when Huntingdon scored a pair of runs — one on a wild pitch and another on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded. The Hawks took the lead in the seventh thanks to an Averett error and an RBI groundout.

Averett outhit Huntingdon 14-10 in the nightcap, with Futrell and senior Timothy Coston each going 3-for-4. Junior Kyle Walsh (2-0) got the win in 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

In Game 1, Averett found itself down 5-0 after the top of the fifth. That's when everything clicked for Averett and fell apart for the Hawks. Averett pieced together an 11-run, 9-hit inning to surge ahead 11-5. Although Huntingdon threatened late, Averett's bullpen finished off the Hawks to win the series opener.

Senior left-hander Taylor Davis (3-1) earned the win, striking out six in 7.1 innings.

Averett also outhit Huntingdon 16-14 in Game 1, with Currie and senior Kevin Alvarez leading the way with four-hit performances.

Averett and Huntingdon face off in Game 3 on Sunday at 1 p.m.