CARY, N.C. — The Averett University baseball team split a conference doubleheader with William Peace University on Saturday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex. Averett's offense propelled it to a 10-2 victory in the second game after dropping the opener 11-9.

In Game 2, Averett (16-16, 6-8 USA South) found itself ahead 5-2 entering the top of the fifth inning. After a lead-off double by senior Nic Futrell put a runner in scoring position, senior Billy McLaughlin took a pitch out to left field that allowed Futrell to score and put McLaughlin on second base. Moments later, senior Mike Moore plated McLaughlin with a single to left to give the Cougars a five-run cushion. Junior Trey Wall rounded out the scoring for the Cougars when he drove a single to right that brought senior Kyle Walsh home to make it an 8-2 game after four-and-a-half.

Averett's offense came through again in the sixth to give the Cougars a 10-2 lead. With the bases loaded, senior Drew Evans stepped up to the plate and delivered a two-run single to left-center that stretched the Cougars' lead to eight heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Wasting little time, Averett jumped out to a three-run lead in its first at-bat. A two-run home run by Futrell put the first runs of the game on the board, and Walsh picked up his first of two RBIs when he singled through the left side to make it 3-0.

After adding another run in the second thanks to a Pacers' error, Walsh drove in his second RBI of the game when he drove a ball through the left side that scored Futrell to put the Cougars in front by five. William Peace (10-20, 2-12 USA South) picked up its only runs of the game on a two-run single in the third to cut its deficit down to three.   

The Cougars' offense banged out 15 hits in the closer, led by three-hit performances from Futrell, McLaughlin, and Wall. All three finished the contest 3-for-4 at the plate with Futrell driving in two runs. Futrell scored three runs while McLaughlin crossed the plate three times as well.

Senior right-hander Joshua Hatcher threw seven solid innings on the mound, striking out six to pick up his fourth win of the season. Junior relief pitcher Cody Johnson put in two innings of work only allowing one hit.

Game 1 saw Averett nearly erase a seven-run deficit in the ninth. Trailing 11-4 and down to its final three outs, Moore took a walk to lead off. Moore moved to second on the Cougars' next at-bat when freshman Corey Wall singled. After a follow-up single by sophomore Dallas Smithers loaded the bases, junior Hunter Ashworth knocked a two-run double to right to get Averett within five. Futrell brought in Smithers and Ashworth with a single to keep the rally going. Another base hit from McLaughlin and a walk juiced the bases once again for the Cougars. Seconds later, Averett picked up its ninth run of the game on a sacrifice fly out to center. The Cougars' rally fell short as the Pacers induced a game-ending foul out to seal the victory.

Heading into the eighth, the Pacers found themselves trailing 4-3. However, an eight-run frame allowed William Peace to establish a sizeable cushion. An RBI single through the right side tied the game and a bunt single from Alex Scott pushed the go-ahead run across. Four consecutive singles stretched the Pacers' lead to five. A RBI single from Brian Willis plated the eventual game-winning run. William Peace picked up an additional run to take a seven-run advantage heading into the final inning.

After a two-run bottom of the sixth gave William Peace a 3-2 advantage, the Cougars picked up a run in the seventh to tie the game. Ashworth drove in Smithers with a single to left to knot the score. The following inning, Walsh brought home Futrell with a fielder's choice and Averett took a one-run edge. However, the Pacers' eight-run eighth would doom the Cougars in the opener.

Smithers turned in a 3-for-5 performance to pace the Cougars in the first game. Ashworth, Futrell, McLaughlin and Moore each picked up a pair of hits as well. Ashworth drove in three runs, while Futrell and Evans each recorded a pair of RBIs as well.

Averett concludes the three-game series against William Peace tomorrow at 1 p.m.