ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — No. 13 Averett University defeated N.C. Wesleyan College 8-0 in six innings to open the USA South Conference Tournament at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex on Friday, but the top-seeded Cougars fell to LaGrange College 3-2 in 11 innings to wrap up the first day.
 
Averett (33-2-1) found itself trailing LaGrange 2-1 going into the seventh inning of its second game of the day. Sophomore Samantha Hall, who's known for her quick bunts and speed to get on base while leading the conference in stolen bases with 43, switched it up on LaGrange in the top of the seventh.  With one out and sophomore Jessica Long on second, Hall nailed her first double of the season to right field, batting in Long to tie the game at 2-2.
 
In the next three innings, neither team managed to hit the gaps in the field from the batter's box as they both grounded or flied out quickly, but in the bottom of the 11^th inning, LaGrange (21-13) put two runners on base. Junior pitcher Mary Beth Smith walked Olivia Wolfe, who also advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. LaGrange's Brooke Turner grounded out at shortstop to give the Panthers two outs, and in the heart of the lineup, Christy Flick was next at bat for LaGrange with Wolfe still on second base. She singled to right field to snag the game-winning RBI as Wolfe made her way to home plate, handing Averett its second loss of the season.  Flick went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Wolfe snagged the win from the pitching circle.   
 
Smith, who was named the USA South Pitcher of the Year on Monday, pitched a total of 12 innings for the day. Prior to the loss, she threw a no-hitter in Averett's shutout over N.C. Wesleyan, facing 19 batters and striking out eight of them. She also went 2-for-3 with an RBI single to left field in the bottom of the third that brought in Hall to extend the Cougars' lead to 2-0. Hall went 2-for-3 as well.
 
N.C. Wesleyan (17-17) struggled with finding a way to get on base. The Battling Bishops made their way to first base when Smith's pitch hit Jasmine Edgren in the fourth, but she didn't stay there for long. Kendra Hoes came behind Edgren and struck out swinging.   
 
In the bottom half of the fourth, freshman Laura Young hit a two-run homer to put the Cougars ahead by four. Averett looked to increase its lead in the fifth as senior Emily Dunford was up. Dunford singled to left field to send home junior Taylor Dix, and sophomore Meredith Rudisill notched a 2 RBI double to gain a seven-run advantage over the Battling Bishops. They scored again to end the game early.
 
Averett returns to action on Saturday to face on Piedmont College at 10 a.m. With one loss in the double-elimination tournament, the Cougars still have a chance to redeem themselves and work their way back into the winners' bracket.