FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Averett University softball team walked away with two conference wins over Methodist University on Saturday afternoon at Price Field. The Cougars defeated the Monarchs 11-3 in the opener and 5-0 in the finale.
 
Averett (12-11, 5-1 USA South) scored six consecutive runs in the fourth inning to ease its way to the first victory early on. After two singles from Nicole Cauthen and Essence Pulliam that put up two runs, sophomore outfielder Taylor Hodges nailed a 2 RBI triple to right center to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead. Senior shortstop Jessica Long followed suit with a triple of her own to run in Hodges. Methodist (4-16, 1-3 USA South) didn't score until the bottom of the seventh inning, but its three runs didn't match the Cougars' performance.
 
Long went 3-for-4 while Cauthen, Pulliam and Hodges each finished with two hits. Freshman infielder Kaitlyn Aherron snagged a double and Taylor Bailey took the win from the pitching circle.
 
In the nightcap, the Cougars only had a one-run lead before heading into the seventh frame. Hodges came up big again for Averett. With one out and two on base, Hodges doubled to right center to send the two runners home for a 3-0 advantage to give the Cougars some cushion. Averett was able to tack on two more runs as the defense held the Monarchs at zero for the shut-out win.
 
Cauthen finished 2-for-3 while sophomore Andrea Grant finished with a double. Aherron, who also drilled a double, grabbed the pitching win with 10 strikeouts.
 
Averett returns to action on Tuesday when it travels to Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to face N.C. Wesleyan College in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.