DALEVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball picked up a 6-4 victory over Roanoke College, but the Maroons won the second game 5-2 to split a non-conference doubleheader played at Lord Botetourt High School Saturday.

In the opener, Averett (10-9) battled back from a one-run deficit to win the game over the final two innings. Trailing 4-3 through five frames, Averett took the lead in the top of the sixth on senior Mary Beth Smith's two-run double to left field. The Cougars added an insurance run in the seventh on freshman Andrea Grant's solo homer, but it wasn't needed. Smith finished off Roanoke (7-5) in the bottom half of the inning to seal the game with a strikeout and the help of a game-ended double play.

Smith (8-3) allowed four runs — one earned — on 11 hits and two walks with five strikeouts over seven innings in the circle.

The Cougars built a 3-0 lead in the third inning. RBI singles by senior Taylor Dix and Grant book-ended sophomore Amanda Wright's RBI groundout. Roanoke, however, responded with a four-run fifth inning thanks to five hits and two errors.

Dix, Smith, Grant and junior Jessica Long each had two hits in the opener.

In Game 2, Roanoke took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single. Averett tied it in the third on senior Rhyan Scearce's bases-loaded walk. The Maroons, however, answered in the same frame with another RBI single to go back in front 2-1. Roanoke scored one run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to extend its lead. Averett's other run came in the fifth on freshman Kristyn Owen's RBI single that cut Roanoke's lead to 3-2 at the time.

Dix, Grant and Scearce each had two hits in the nightcap.

Averett returns to conference play when the Cougars travel to Greensboro College on Sunday.