LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. – The Averett University softball team finished Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 conference sweep over Covenant College. The Cougars shut out the Scots 11-0 in a five-inning opener and took the second game 5-3.
 
With a slight deviation from its usual batting order in the first game, Averett (14-9, 6-0 USA South) tacked on an early run with a homer to right center from senior second baseman Taylor Dix. The Cougars added two more ticks to the scoreboard to gain a 3-0 lead in the fourth frame before tallying eight runs in the fifth inning. Senior pitcher Mary Beth Smith ignited the fire for Averett. With runners on the corners, Smith crushed a three RBI home run to center field to put the Cougars ahead by six. Averett continued to tally runs, making a full rotation through the lineup in the fifth as Covenant (10-9-1, 3-7 USA South) remained scoreless.
 
Smith finished 2-for-3 to lead Averett with four RBIs while Dix went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Senior infielder Jessica Griffin and freshman Andrea Grant both notched doubles, and junior shortstop Jessica Long put up three runs for the Cougars. Averett's 11 runs tied its season high.
 
The last game was a much closer finish, but the Cougars still kept the Scots from getting in front. Senior right fielder Rhyan Scearce batted freshman outfielder Taylor Hodges in with a sacrifice fly to left field, giving Averett a one-run advantage in the top of the second inning. Later on with two outs, Long hit a two RBI double to left field, but unlike the opener, this time the Scots were able to answer. In the bottom half of the frame, Jordan Brett doubled to right center to put two runners in scoring position and loaded the bases a batter later. A sac-fly and a two RBI double from Covenant tied the game going into the fourth, however, Scearce nailed the winning hit with a single to left field that allowed sophomore infielder Samm Chandler to score the game-winning run.
 
Scearce and Long finished with two RBIs apiece, and freshman outfielder Essence Pulliam notched a double along with Long, Grant and Griffin. Smith went into the circle midway through the game to claim her second victory of the afternoon, improving her record to 11-3. She ended the day with eight strikeouts.
 
Averett wraps up its weekend road trip on Sunday, March 20. The Cougars will take on the Piedmont College Lions in a doubleheader at noon.