DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University baseball's offense propelled the Cougars to a pair of victories over conference foe Greensboro College on Saturday at Owen-Fulton Field. Averett dominated the opener 17-6 and rallied to win the second game 8-6, giving the Cougars' 10 seniors a sweep on Senior Day.
 
In the opener, Averett (14-14, 5-7 USA South) used several big innings to cruise to the 11-run victory. Down 5-4, Averett pieced together four RBI singles as part of a five-run frame to jump ahead 9-5. Ahead 10-7 going to the bottom of the eight, the Cougars' offense exploded for seven runs, capped by a three-run homer to left by senior Drew Evans.
 
Greensboro (6-23, 2-10 USA South) led 3-0 initially before Averett plated four runs in the second inning. The Pride added a run in each of the next two innings to take the lead until the Cougars offense rallied.
 
Averett pounded out 17 hits in Game 1, with sophomore Dallas Smithers leading the way with a 4-for-6 day with five RBIs and three runs scored. Junior Hunter Ashworth and sophomore Kyle Vidano each had three hits.
 
Junior left-hander Cody Johnson (1-0) earned the win in relief of senior right-hander Kyle Walsh, who pitched the first five innings. Johnson pitched three innings and allowed just one run on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Junior right-hander Daniel Elliott pitched a scoreless ninth to put the Pride away.
 
In Game 2, Averett picked up where it left off. Vidano's RBI double and senior Nic Futrell's RBI triple in the first inning put the Cougars in front 2-0. However, Greensboro responded with two runs in the second and two runs in the third to go ahead 4-2. Averett got one of those runs back as Ashworth scored while a teammate got into a rundown between first and second base in the bottom of the third.
 
Trailing 4-3 in the seventh inning, Averett's offense came alive once again. Greensboro induced a pair of groundouts to start the inning before the Cougars rattled off five runs on four hits to regain the lead. Ashworth got it started with a two-out single up the middle and Vidano drew a walk, and Futrell then singled in Ashworth to tie the game. After Billy McLaughlin was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Walsh rocketed a ground ball through the left side to score Vidano and Futrell with the go-ahead runs. The Cougars tacked on two more runs on Evans' double to left-center.
 
Greensboro scored two runs in the top of the ninth to pull within two before the Cougars closed the door to earn the three-game sweep of the Pride.
 
Senior right-hander Joshua Hatcher (3-1) earned the win, striking out seven over seven innings. Seniors Brandon Goff and Gavin Horton pitched scoreless relief in the victory.
 
Ashworth, Futrell and Walsh each had a pair of hits in the nightcap.
 
In between games, Averett honored its 10 seniors with a ceremony.
 
Averett returns to action with a non-conference road game at Hampden-Sydney College on Tuesday.