DANVILLE, Va. ­— Penn State University Harrisburg used a four-run seventh inning to defeat the Averett University baseball team 10-3 on Sunday at Owen-Fulton Field.
 
Already in front 6-0, Penn State-Harrisburg (5-6) increased its lead to seven on an RBI single from Tom Denniston. On their next at-bat, the Lions picked up another run thanks to an RBI sacrifice fly out. Moments later, Penn State-Harrisburg made it a 10-run ballgame when two runners scored on a single from Chris Iocca and an Averett throwing error.
 
Refusing to go down quietly, Averett (6-7) nearly cut its deficit in half with three runs in the eighth. With runners on first and second base, senior Nic Futrell stepped up and knocked a single to center field that scored sophomore Dallas Smithers. Senior Kyle Walsh followed with an RBI groundout that made it 10-2. The Cougars rounded out their scoring courtesy of a single from senior Billy McLaughlin that scored Futrell and got Averett within seven. However, time ran out on the Cougars comeback and they lost for the first time in five games.
 
Penn State-Harrisburg picked up a run in the first and second to build a two-run advantage. The Lions also added a pair of runs in both the fourth and fifth to take a 6-0 lead heading into the seventh.
 
Futrell paced the Cougars offensively, going 3-for-4 at the plate and driving in a run. McLaughlin recorded two hits and recorded an RBI as well, while Walsh drove in a run.
 
Senior Brandon Goff and sophomore Patrick Long were solid in relief for the Cougars. The two combined to blank the Lions over the course of the final two frames, while not surrendering a hit.
 
Averett concludes the three-game series against Penn State-Harrisburg with a doubleheader tomorrow at 12 p.m. on Owen-Fulton Field.