NORFOLK, Va. – The Averett University softball team dropped a doubleheader to No. 14 Virginia Wesleyan College on Saturday afternoon at Marlins Field. Averett fell 14-1 in the first game and 4-1 in the second.  
 
In the first game, Averett (3-4) scored in the first inning on a run from Jessica Long to put the Cougars in front early, but Virginia Wesleyan (5-1) took advantage of mishaps from Averett's defense to notch four runs in the bottom half of the frame. The Cougars worked to put the ball in play and get on base, but the Marlins held off Averett's scoring for the remainder of the game. Senior pitcher Mary Beth Smith led the Cougars with one RBI and finished with four strikeouts.
 
In the final game, the Cougars kept the score tighter as Long went 3-for-4 with one RBI. Long batted in sophomore first baseman Amanda Right on a single to right field in the top half of the seventh. Unfortunately for the Cougars, Virginia Wesleyan already gained a 2-0 lead with a sacrifice bunt to run in Kayla Malkos in the second inning and scored another two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Wright finished 1-for-1 with a double while senior right fielder Rhyan Scearce went 2-for-3.
 
Averett returns to the field on Sunday, Feb. 28, to take on No. 12 Christopher Newport University in a doubleheader on the road at 1 p.m.