BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Sophomore Kyle Vidano and senior Kyle Walsh each drove in two runs as the Averett University baseball team avenged an early season loss to Bridgewater College with an 8-6 victory on Thursday.

Averett (15-15) picked up four runs in the top of the fifth inning to lead it to victory. Vidano made it a 3-0 contest with his RBI single through the left side. Senior Nic Futrell brought home junior Hunter Ashworth with a bunt single and a two-run error on a ball hit out to right field by Walsh extended the Cougars' advantage to 6-2 after four-and-a-half.

Trailing 7-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, Bridgewater (16-11) plated two runs to cut its deficit down to three. After a lead-off double by Ryan Leake gave the Eagles a man in scoring position,  Brendan Howell stepped up and crushed a two-run home run to right field to make it 7-4.

The Cougars struck early in their first at-bat. With runners on second and third base, senior Billy McLaughlin stepped up and delivered a single up the middle that scored Vidano and Futrell to put Averett out in front 2-0.

However, Bridgewater answered back in the bottom of the second to knot the score at 2-2. A fielding error by the Cougars allowed the Eagles' first run to score and Leake followed that with a RBI double down the left field line to tie the game.

Already ahead 6-2 entering the sixth, Averett got the eventual game-winning run when Vidano was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, sending senior Noah Greenblatt home with the Cougars seventh tally of the game.

Bridgewater picked up an additional run in its half of the eighth on a single from Leake to get within two. The Eagles added another tick to the scoreboard in the final frame courtesy of an RBI single from Cavin Clyde to lead to the final score.

Futrell and Ashworth each turned in a solid day at the play with both turning in 2-for-3 performances. Vidano hit .500 on the afternoon with a 2-for-4 effort, while sophomore Dallas Smithers chipped in with two hits as well. Senior Drew Evans also picked up an RBI.

Smithers (3-2) picked up the victory, striking out four and only allowing one earned run in three innings of work. Junior left-hander Cody Johnson and senior Gavin Horton held the Eagles hitless in 2.3 innings of relief duties.

The Cougars spring back into action on Saturday when they travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take on William Peace University at 1 p.m. in a USA South Conference doubleheader.