DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University's senior softball players walked away with two conference wins over Meredith College to celebrate their Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field. The nationally ranked Cougars won 9-1 and 12-0, both in five innings.
 
In Game 1, Meredith's Maria Annunziata surprised No. 25 Averett with homer to left field to open the game and take an early 1-0 lead, but the lead didn't last for long as that was the only run Averett gave up the entire afternoon. Averett (20-0-1, 10-0 USA South) took over in the bottom of the second with five runs. After gaining a 2-1 advantage with two outs, junior Taylor Dix drilled a three RBI double up the middle, and junior pitcher Mary Beth Smith batted Dix in with single down the right field line to increase Averett's lead to 6-1.
 
With 12 consecutive outs after Annunziata's homer, the Avenging Angels didn't get on base until the fifth inning. Erin Artigues advanced on a walk, but was put out at second that allowed Courtney Saunders to get to first on a fielder's choice. However, Meredith (12-8, 6-4 USA South) couldn't get too comfortable on base because Smith struck out two batters to end the frame, and Averett scored two more runs to finish the game in five innings and defeat the Avenging Angels 9-1.
 
Dix went 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBIs, and Smith went 2-for-3 with one double and two RBIs while striking out seven batters to claim the win, improving to 11-0.
 
The seniors made some noise for Averett in the closing game. The Cougars gained a comfortable 4-0 run in the first inning when senior second baseman Emily Dunford singled to left center to send in Smith and Dix and later scored on a wild pitch to put Averett ahead 5-0.
 
In the second inning, Averett was able to capitalize on Meredith's throwing errors. Smith reached first on an error from third baseman Annunziata that brought in Samantha Hall and allowed Dix to advance to third. With three on base after junior Jessica Griffin was walked, Dunford hit the ball to pitcher Amanda White, who threw the ball to catcher Katlyn Johnson for the forced out at home. In an attempt to snag the double play, Johnson overthrew the first baseman. Griffin and senior Taylor Mahaffey, who pinch ran for Smith, ran home for an 8-0 lead while Dunford advanced all the way to third. Junior Jessye Crews then singled up the middle to bring home Dunford.
 
Ahead 9-0, sophomore Meredith Rudisill doubled down the left field line to send in Dunford and move senior Amy Hamlett to third. Rudisill and Mahaffey were the only Cougars to hit doubles in the second game. Hamlett ran in on Jessica Long's ground ball to shortstop, and Rudisill advanced on a throw later for a 12-0 win in five innings again.
 
The Cougars begin their five-game road swing tomorrow with a doubleheader against conference foe Mary Baldwin College at 12 p.m.