ZEBULON, N.C. — The Averett University baseball team fell 7-5 to Maryville College on Friday afternoon in the first contest of a three-game USA South Conference series at Five County Stadium.
 
After surrendering two runs to Maryville (24-13, 17-11 USA South) in the top of the first, Averett (22-11, 16-9 USA South) answered back with three runs in its half of the first to establish a one-run advantage. Freshman Kyle Vidano led things off with a single and senior J.T. Crowder followed with a single of his own to put runners on the corners for Averett.  Senior Taylor Davis banged out a double to right-center that brought home Vidano and cut the Cougars' deficit in half at 2-1. Two batters later, junior Nic Futrell plated Crowder with a sacrifice fly to right that evened the score. The Cougars went ahead several batters later when a throwing error by the Scots' shortstop scored Davis, putting Averett in front 3-2.
 
Maryville's Nick Dean smacked a two-run homer in the fifth to put the Scots back in front. They added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh off Dean's two-run double to center to push ahead 6-3. Once again, though, Averett answered back with a run in the bottom of the seventh frame when senior Chatham Currie laid down an RBI bunt single to score junior Mike Moore, cutting the Cougars' deficit to two. Maryville, however, got the run back in the top of the eighth.
 
Trailing 7-4 entering the final inning, Averett seemed poised for another comeback. Senior Nick Ascue came on to pinch hit for Currie and recorded a no-out single up the middle. Ascue advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored off a series of Averett groundouts to get the Cougars within two. However, that's as close as Averett would get as Maryville induced a game-ending strikeout to seal the victory.
 
Vidano paced the Cougars with two hits on the afternoon. Futrell, Currie, Davis and junior Drew Evans each chipped in with an RBI for Averett.
 
Senior Jeffrey Younkins, sophomore Gavin Horton and junior Brandon Goff pitched effectively in relief, allowing only two hits and one run, while striking out four in 2 2/3 innings of work.
 
Averett battles Maryville on Saturday in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. to conclude its three-game road stretch.