RALEIGH, N.C. — The Averett University softball team split a doubleheader with conference foe Meredith College on Sunday afternoon at Meredith Softball Field to conclude the regular season. The Cougars claimed the first game 15-2 in five innings but fell short 7-5 in the second game.
 
Averett (22-15, 14-6 USA South) hit five home runs in Game 1 to easily take the first matchup. Senior right fielder Rhyan Scearce sparked the Cougar offense with her homer to center field in the second inning and freshman Kristyn Owen and senior pitcher Mary Beth Smith followed her lead with two home runs each. 
 
The Cougars moved ahead 7-0 when Owen notched the first grand slam of her career to center field in the top of the third, and after posting two more runs in the fourth from Smith's two RBI homer, Averett managed to tally six more runs in the fifth frame.
 
Owen went a perfect 3-for-3 with five RBIs as Smith, Scearce and junior shortstop Jessica Long finished 3-for-4 to help Averett rack up 15 hits. Smith had four RBIs and took the win from the circle to improve to 17-7.
 
In Game 2, Owen crushed another home run to give Averett a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but Meredith (20-18, 10-10 USA South) worked to bounce back from the first game. Averett led 2-1 going into the fifth frame, but the Angels overcame the deficit in the bottom half of the inning. Using two singles and a double with runners in scoring position, Meredith was able to tack on three runs to gain a 4-2 advantage.
 
The Cougars answered with three runs of their own and regained the lead on Long's sacrifice fly that sent sophomore Samm Chandler home as Averett moved in front 5-4 in the sixth. Again, Meredith matched Averett's effort.
 
The Angels added three more runs as they capitalized on Averett errors, and in the top of the seventh, Meredith prevented Averett's first three batters from getting on base with two fly-outs and a ground out.     
 
Averett returns to action on Friday, April 15, to play in the USA South Conference Tournament in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Sitting at the No. 4 seed, Averett will play No. 5 Ferrum College at 9 a.m. at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.