LYNCHBURG, Va. — Averett University used a dominant third inning to defeat Lynchburg College 17-9 on Wednesday night at City Stadium. The victory extended the Cougars winning-streak to six.

Behind 4-0 going into the third frame, senior Chatham Currie got things going for the Cougars with a lead-off double to right field. Freshman B.J. Purnell followed with a single, and freshman Kyle Vidano brought Currie home with a sacrifice fly to right to put Averett (16-6) on the board. Moments later, the Cougars got within one thanks to senior Kevin Alvarez's RBI single to left field and an error by the Hornets' left fielder, which allowed senior J.T. Crowder and Purnell to score, making it 4-3. The next batter, junior Nic Futrell, tied the game with an RBI double to left-center, and the Cougars went ahead thanks to junior Drew Evans' single to center that plated Futrell. Averett added another run in the fourth with another RBI sacrifice fly by Vidano.

Despite the six-run third, things started off rough for Averett thanks to a four-run second inning by Lynchburg (6-13). The Hornets started the inning off with a single and a double to put a runner in scoring position. A Cougars' balk brought home the first run of the game, and Austin Owens knocked an RBI double to left-center to put Lynchburg ahead by two. The Hornets rounded out the scoring with a pair of RBI singles to increase their lead to 4-0 after two.

After posting a run in the fourth and fifth to build its lead to 8-5, Averett used a four-run sixth to increase its lead to seven. A pair of walks and a fielder's choice juiced the bases for the Cougars with no outs. Crowder came to the plate and bashed a two-run single to center to give Averett a five-run advantage. Davis' RBI sacrifice fly to center brought another run home for the Cougars, and Alvarez drove in another with his single through the left side. Averett added three insurance runs in the eighth when senior Timothy Coston brought home Crowder with an infield single and Currie scored Alvarez and Davis with a single to center, giving the Cougars a 16-6 lead.

Lynchburg was able to rally with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to cut into its deficit. After an Averett throwing error, fielder's choice, and a single through the right side loaded the bases, Ryan Katona slapped a single up the middle that scored two on the play. A sacrifice fly to right brought home another run for the Hornets to get them within seven, but junior right-hander T.J. Viracola induced a strikeout to end the inning.

Coston (4-1) picked up the victory in 6.2 innings of work.

Offensively, the Cougars were paced by Futrell who drove in four runs on the evening, followed by Vidano's three. Currie went 3-for-4, finishing with two RBI's, and Alvarez and Crowder each drove in two in the victory.

Averett takes the field again on March 28 when it takes on Piedmont College at 3 p.m. in a conference doubleheader in DeMorest, Georgia.