DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University baseball rallied late to force extra innings, then beat Ferrum College 7-6 in the 10th on Saturday to tie the series 1-1 at Owen-Fulton Field.

Averett (7-4, 5-3 USA South) trailed 6-5 after Ferrum took the lead in the top of the ninth, but the Cougars fought back to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, freshman Kyle Vidano was hit by a pitch to get the rally started. After stealing second base and advancing to third on a groundout, Vidano came home on senior Kevin Alvarez's RBI single to center field.

The Cougars got through the top of the 10th inning unscathed on the scoreboard despite Ferrum getting a runner in scoring position, which helped Averett get the walk-off win in their at-bat. After senior Timothy Coston drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by sophomore Ramel Reynolds on the basepath, a Ferrum error put runners on second and first. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, forching the Panthers to intentionally walk junior pinch hitter Billy McLaughlin to load the bases and try to set up the force play at home with only one out. Vidano spoiled Ferrum's plans with a single through the left side, scoring Reynolds for the game-winning run.

Averett trailed 3-1 at the end the fourth inning after three frames of quick outs, but the Cougars worked their way back in the eighth inning with the help of Coston's bat. He doubled to right center to send Alvarez home. Moments later, junior Drew Evans' sacrifice fly allowed Coston to score and tie the game at 5-5.

Coston went 3-for-4 to lead Averett and finished with two runs and two RBIs.
 
In the top of the ninth, Nick Koutsoukos singled to right center, but an Averett error allowed him to advance to third base. Adam Duncan's double drove him in to put Ferrum in front 6-5.
 
Junior right-hander Joshua Hatcher (2-0) earned the victory in relief, pitching the final two-thirds of the 10th inning. Junior T.J. Viracola allowed five runs — only two earned — in 7.1 innings before a host of relievers finished out the game for the Cougars.
 
Averett returns to the field at 2 p.m. — an hour later than the originally scheduled time — on Sunday for the rubber match of the three-game series against Ferrum.