MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Sophomore Dallas Smithers picked up a team-high four hits, including three doubles and drove in a run as the Averett University baseball team fell 5-3 to Maryville College on Friday night at Scotland Yard.

Smithers finished a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate to increase his batting average to a team-high .364 and his three doubles gave him eight for the season to give him another team high.

Averett (8-9, 1-3 USA South) found itself in an early hole courtesy of a three-run first inning from Maryville (15-3, 6-1 USA South). After a pair of singles from the Scots put runners in scoring position, Zach Blonder banged a two-run single to right-center field to give Maryville a 2-0 lead. The Scots plated their third run moments later on Tyler Bigler's RBI single to right.

No strangers to adversity, the Cougars added a run in the third on Smithers' RBI double down the line in left. After holding the Scots scoreless in the bottom of the third, the Cougars brought across two runs in the fourth to knot the score at 3-3. A pair of singles put runners on the corners for Averett with one out. Junior Trey Wall brought senior Billy McLaughlin home with an RBI single to make it a 3-2 affair. Facing a one run deficit, the Cougars got aggressive on the base paths and senior Drew Evans stole home to make it a 3-3 ballgame after three-and-a-half.

Maryville, however, would strike back with a run in the bottom of the fourth frame to re-establish the lead on Brendan Lawler's RBI double to left-center.

Despite falling behind, the Cougars seemed ready to tie the game again in the bottom of the fifth.  Smithers led off with his third double of the game and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Averett's next batter, senior Nic Futrell reached first when he was hit by a pitch and the Cougars had something cooking. However, the Scots caught the Cougars trying to steal home again and an inning-ending strikeout helped Maryville preserve the lead.

Senior right-hander T.J. Viracola (3-3) went the distance on the hill, striking out eight in eight innings of work.

The Cougars return to Scotland Yard tomorrow to conclude the three-game USA South Conference series with a doubleheader against Maryville starting at 1 p.m.