DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University baseball used a three-run eighth inning to break open a close game en route to a 6-2 victory over William Peace University on Friday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field.
 
Leading 3-1 going into its half of the eighth, Averett (19-8, 13-6 USA South) put runners on first and second base on a walk and bunt single to the pitcher.  Senior Taylor Davis brought home the Cougars' fourth run with a sacrifice bunt and reached first thanks to a throwing error from William Peace's third baseman.  Senior Kevin Alvarez' RBI groundout to short plated another run for Averett and senior Timothy Coston's double to left-center scored the Cougars last run of the frame to make it 6-1.
 
Despite its five-run deficit, William Peace (1-23, 1-21 USA South) came close to pulling off a late rally in the ninth. The Pacers loaded the bases thanks to a pair of singles and an Averett error, and added their second run of the game off Tyler Klinedinst's sacrifice fly to center. However, Davis induced a fly out to center to end the game, giving the Cougars their second straight win.
 
Averett scored in the first to take the early lead. Freshman Kyle Vidano led the inning off with a single and stole second to get into scoring range. Alvarez drove in the first of his three RBIs with a single through the left side to score Vidano, putting the Cougars up 1-0. The Pacers added a run in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1.
 
Neither team surrendered another run until Averett retook the lead in the fourth off Alvarez's RBI single up the middle that scored senior J.T. Crowder to put the Cougars up by one. Averett put a run on the board in the seventh when Coston knocked a single to left, driving in his second run on the afternoon.
 
Davis (5-1) went the distance on the hill, allowing two runs- only one earned- while striking out seven in his third complete game of the season.
 
Alvarez paced the Cougars offensively in the victory, batting 3-for-4 with a trio of RBIs. Coston saw the ball well also, finishing 3-for-4, while driving in two runs and Crowder chipped in with two hits of his own.
 
Averett concludes the three-game conference series with William Peace when it hosts the Pacers in a doubleheader at 12 p.m. at Owen-Fulton Field.