ATLANTA, Ga. — A win over the No. 4 team in the nation highlighted a perfect opening day for the Averett University softball team at Emory University's 3n2 Elite Invitational on Saturday. The Cougars began their 2017 season with 6-5 win over Rhodes College 6-5 and completed the day by knocking off nationally ranked Emory 7-4.
 
After opening with the win against Rhodes, Averett (2-0) continued its success against the host Eagles.The Cougars jumped on Emory (1-1) in the first inning and never trailed. Freshman Breanna Murphy singled home senior Jessica Long, and freshman Brianna Harris later scored on a wild pitch to put Averett in front 2-0.

Although Emory got two runs back in the bottom of the second on a pair of solo home runs, Averett countered with a run in each of the third and fourth innings. Sophomore Taylor Hodges singled hom freshman Nicole Cauthen in the third, and senior Samantha Hall led off the fourth with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

Holding a 5-3 lead, Averett added two crucial insurance runs in the top of the sixth. Long, who reached on a single, scored on freshman Kaitlyn Aherron's sacrifice fly to left field, and Harris plated Hall with an RBI single.

Emory added another run on a solo homer in the bottom half of the frame, but the Cougars closed the door on the Eagles to seal the win.

Aherron (1-0) earned the big win in her collegiate pitching debut, allowing four runs on 10 hits and one walk.
 
Hall finished with three hits, while Long ended with two hits against Emory.

In Game 1, Rhodes (3-3) scored first with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning, but the Cougars responded in the bottom of the third to knot the score at 2-2. Sophomore Essence Pulliam doubled, then advanced to third on an error. Long followed with an RBI double, and she eventually scored on Aherron's RBI groundout.
 
Although the Lynx regained the lead on an RBI single in the fourth, Averett took its first lead in the fifth. Aherron smacked a two-run double to center field, and she came around to score on a fielder's choice. The Cougars added another run when sophomore Andrea Grant scored on junior Mackenzie Barrett's sacrifice fly to put the Cougars up 6-3.
 
The Lynx got within one run on Christine Hume's RBI single following Olivia Jackson's RBI triple in the seventh, but the Cougars got a groundout for the final out to escape with the season-opening victory.
 
Freshman right-hander Taylor Bailey (1-0) earned the win in her collegiate debut. Bailey went all seven innings, striking out two with allowing five runs on eight hits.
 
Long finished with three hits against Rhodes, while Aherron ended with two hit.

Averett's win over Emory was its third against a top-five team since the start of 2016. The Cougars also earned a pair of wins over No. 3 DePauw University at Emory's tournament last season.

Averett faces Rhodes again Sunday at 10 a.m., and Emory again at 2 p.m. to finish play at the two-day event.