DEMOREST, Ga. — Averett University baseball lost 6-2 to Piedmont College on Sunday afternoon in USA South conference action.
 
Averett (17-8, 12-6 USA South) took an early lead over Piedmont, posting a run in the top of the first inning. Freshman Kyle Vidano led the game off with a single and advanced to second base thanks to a Lions' balk to get into scoring range. The Cougars' next batter, senior J.T. Crowder reached on a fielder's choice bunt, while moving Vidano over to third in the process. Senior Taylor Davis' sacrifice fly to center field brought Vidano home to give Averett a 1-0 lead. Despite spotting the Cougars the early run, Piedmont (17-7, 14-7 USA South) answered with a run in the bottom of the frame off an RBI triple by Evan Gresham to tie the score at 1-1.
 
After both teams failed to plate a run in the second, the Cougars jumped back on top in the top of the third. A pair of singles by senior Chatham Currie and Vidano put runners on first and second for Averett with no outs. Crowder laid down another bunt that moved Currie to third and Vidano to second and Davis scored Currie with an RBI groundout to second to give the Cougars a one-run advantage. Once again, though, the Lions clawed their way back into the game, using a two run bottom of the third to extend their lead to two.
 
Trailing 4-2 entering the top of the eighth, Averett seemed poised for another late rally when senior Timothy Coston led off the frame with a single. Junior Drew Evans moved Coston over to second with a sacrifice bunt, and two batters later, Currie reached first when a pitch hit him, putting the tying runs on the base paths for Averett. However, Piedmont induced a fielder's choice to end the inning and the Cougars' threat.
 
Piedmont broke the game open with a two-run bottom of the eighth to take a 6-2 advantage off an RBI triple by Daniel Lindsey and an RBI sacrifice fly to center by Casey Parham.
 
Davis brought home both of the Cougars' runs on the afternoon, while Coston and Vidano chipped in with two hits a piece.
 
Junior Joshua Hatcher (4-1) pitched six innings, surrendering one run while striking out six. Sophomore Cody Johnson and senior Jeffrey Younkins combined for two innings of relief work, giving up only three hits.
 
Averett takes the field again on April 1 when it hosts Guilford College at 3 p.m. at Owen-Fulton Field.