WILSON, N.C. — The Averett University baseball team split a doubleheader against conference foe Maryville College on Saturday afternoon. Averett downed Maryville 6-4 in the first game and lost the nightcap 8-0 in eight innings after the game was called due to rain.
 
In the first game, senior Nick Ascue's two-run single to center field in the bottom of the fourth inning put Averett (23-12, 17-10 USA South) in front 6-4. After a Maryville fielding error and a double by junior Drew Evans down the left field line put runners on second and third base for Averett, Ascue's base hit gave the Cougars a lead they didn't relinquish.
 
Maryville (25-14, 18-12 USA South) jumped out on top of Averett early, posting two runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 advantage. Zack Blonder's single through the left side brought home the first run of the game for the Scots and an RBI single to right field by Maryville's John McDermott increased the lead to two. The Scots seemed ready to add additional runs after they loaded the bases, but junior right-hander T.J. Viracola got Jacob Frost to fly out to center to end Maryville's threat.
 
Averett answered back with a run in its half of the first to pull within one. Senior Kevin Alvarez brought home freshman Kyle Vidano with a double to left to plate the Cougars' first run of the afternoon. Averett struck again in the second to tie the game. Senior Timothy Coston led off the frame with a double down the right field line and advance to third on junior Drew Evans' sacrifice bunt. Coston came home off of sophomore Hunter Ashworth's sacrifice fly to even the score at 2-2.
 
Maryville, however, used a two-run third to double the score. Nick Dean led off the frame with a double down the right field line and scored on a groundout to short to put the Scots back in front. Maryville added another run thanks to an RBI groundout to second to extend its advantage to two.
 
As they've done all season, the Cougars rallied in the bottom of the third, posting two runs to knot the score at 4-4. Vidano started things off with a single to right and later scored when the Scots' pitcher picked up a throwing error on senior Chatham Currie's sacrifice bunt. Currie, who moved all the way to third on the throwing error, came home on senior Taylor Davis' RBI groundout to second to level the score.
 
Alvarez and Coston paced the Cougars with two hits apiece. Ascue led all Averett hitters with two RBIs, while Ashworth, Alvarez, and Davis each drove in a run in the first game victory.
 
Viracola (3-4) went seven innings in the victory, scattering five hits, while striking out one.  Junior relief pitcher Brandon Goff surrendered no hits in a half-inning of work to pick up his second save of the season. Sophomore Gavin Horton didn't allow a hit and struck out two in 1 1/3 innings of work.        
 
As in the first game, the second contest saw the Scots score two runs in the first to take a two-run advantage. Maryville tacked on another pair of runs in the fifth and added three in the sixth to gain a seven-run cushion after six.
 
Alvarez, Coston, and junior Mike Moore each chipped in a hit for the Cougars in the closing game.
 
Averett returns home on April 24 when it starts a three-game series with conference opponent Covenant College at 3 p.m.