DANVILLE, Va. — Junior Drew Evans' walk-off RBI single capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth as Averett University upended conference favorite Ferrum College 10-9 on Sunday at Owen-Fulton Field to help the Cougars take two of three in the series.

Averett (8-4, 6-3 USA South) trailed 9-8 entering its final at-bat. Ferrum (8-7, 7-5 USA South) got the Cougars to fly out to right field to open the inning, leaving Averett only two outs to get a comeback attempt going. Senior Taylor Davis answered, singling through the right side. Senior Kevin Alvarez worked a 2-0 count before Ferrum went to its closer, Alex Brown (1-2), who entered the day tied for the USA South lead with four saves. Alvarez didn't flinch, crushing a double to left-center field to put runners on second and third to give Averett life.

Senior Nic Futrell's groundout to shortstop scored Davis from third base to tie the game at 9-9, swinging the momentum to Cougars' way. Ferrum elected to intentionally walk senior Tim Coston to get to Evans, who had already hurt the Panthers with a two-run homer earlier in the game. The move backfired as Evans lined a single to left field, allowing sophomore pinch-runner Ramel Reynolds to score from second base and give Averett its second walk-off win over Ferrum in as many days.

Ferrum's move to intentionally put Coston aboard to face him surprised Evans, who thought the Panthers might walk him as well to load the bases and set up a force play at any bag. Either way, he was confident the Cougars would find a way to win.

"I thought there was no way around it, and we all felt the same way," said Evans, who was mobbed at first base after delivering the knock-out punch against the rival Panthers. "This win was huge. They were picked at the top of the conference and we were picked ninth. … We've rolled off a few good wins (over the last two weeks) and we're confident right now."

After losing the series opener 9-7 on Friday, Averett rallied to beat Ferrum 7-6 in 10 innings on Saturday to set up Sunday's rubber match. With their latest win, the Cougars have won seven of their last eight games.

The Panthers looked poised to take Game 3 of the series after scoring a run in each of the first two innings. Averett cut its deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the second inning thanks to the first of three Ferrum errors on the afternoon. The Panthers responded with a three-run third inning to chase Coston, who started on the mound for Averett.

Davis' solo homer in the third and Evans' two-run blast in the fourth pulled Averett within 5-4 before Ferrum extended its lead back to two runs in the top of the fifth. The Cougars got the run back in the bottom half of the inning on Alvarez's double, but Alvarez was stranded at third base as the would-be-tying run.

With the first two games of the series as proof, no lead was safe between the two teams. Although Ferrum added three more runs on four hits to take a 9-5 lead, Averett responded with a three runs of its own the same inning to once again get within a run. The Cougars again left the tying run 90 feet away after Ferrum induced an inning-ending double play.

Despite several missed opportunities throughout the game, Alvarez said he felt confident they would find a way to win Sunday's series finale.

"We'd been fighting all weekend and we weren't about to lay down now," he said.

Senior right-hander Jeffrey Younkins (1-0), who pitched the final 2.2 innings, held the Panthers hitless to help set up the thrilling finish.

Averett and Ferrum each finished with 16 hits. Davis led the Cougars with a 4-for-5 day at the plate, while Futrell and Evans each went 3-for-5.

The Cougars will look to carry the momentum into Monday's non-conference home game against Emory & Henry College at 2 p.m.