ATLANTA, Ga. — Averett University softball opened its 2016 season by splitting a pair of games with nationally ranked opponents Saturday at the Emory University's 3n2 Invitational. Averett knocked off No. 3 DePauw University 4-2 before falling to No. 18 Emory 11-3 in six innings.
 
Averett (1-1) started its season with some momentum by upsetting a top-five team for the second season in a row. The Cougars jumped on DePauw (1-5) in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed. With junior Jessica Long at third base and junior Samantha Hall at first, Hall stole second and Long came home on the throw to put Averett in front 1-0.
 
Although DePauw tied the game on an RBI sacrifice bunt in the top of the second, Averett regained the lead in the third inning. Long tied the game with an RBI single up the middle, and she later scored on senior Taylor Dix's sacrifice fly to put the Cougars up 3-1.
 
The Tigers got within one run on Gabby Smart's RBI double in the top of the fifth, but Averett answered in the bottom of the frame when freshman Skylar Dudley scored on an error. With a 4-2 lead, Averett held off DePauw over the final two innings to secure the win.
 
Senior right-hander Mary Beth Smith (1-0) had a solid season debut, striking out six while allowing just two runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings.
 
Long and freshman Taylor Hodges each finished with two hits against the Tigers.
 
In Game 2 of the day, Averett and host Emory (6-0) were scoreless entering the bottom of the second when the Eagles struck first. Emory got back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, and following a strikeout, a walk loaded the bases. The Cougars induced a popup for the second out, but Emory's Alyssa Pollard kept the inning going with a two-run single up the middle to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage. The Eagles tacked on three more runs the next inning on Lana Hermann's three-run homer.
 
Trailing 5-0, Averett closed the gap in the later innings. Senior Rhyan Scearce led off the fifth with a double and later scored on sophomore Amanda Wright's single to right field to give the Cougars their first run. The following inning, Averett got within 5-3 as freshman Essence Pulliam scored on an error and freshman Andrea Grant singled home senior Taylor Dix.
 
Emory, however, answered back with six runs on six hits in the bottom half of the frame to put the game away.
 
Averett faces DePauw and Emory again on Sunday in back-to-back games beginning at noon.