DANVILLE, Va. — Freshman Nicole Cauthen's two-out RBI single lifted Averett University softball to a 4-3 walk-off victory over conference foe Salem College at Cougar Field on Sunday. Averett scored a pair of runs in the final inning to avoid the sweep after falling 4-0 to the Spirits earlier in the day.

Averett (18-16, 10-6 USA South) trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, and Salem (21-12, 13-5 USA South) appeared ready to take two games from the Cougars after notching two quick outs. Averett, however, had other plans. Freshman Kaitlyn Aherron singled to left-center and freshman Casey Cook followed with a single to left to put two runners aboard. Sophomore Andrea Grant tied the game, 3-3, with a single to left, bringing home Aherron and moving Cook to third.

Cauthen drove in the game-winning run moments later with a hard single through the left side.

Averett led 1-0 early on freshman Mallory Griffiths' RBI single in the second inning. Salem then jumped ahead 2-1 on Briana Crumley's two-run single up the middle during the fifth inning. The Spirits added another run in the sixth on Hannah Ogle's RBI single to left-center. The Cougars closed the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth on freshman Breanna Murphy's RBI single up the middle, which scored freshman pinch-runner Brianna Harris from third base.

Grant led the Cougars with 3-for-4 effort at the plate in Game 2. Senior Samantha Hall, Cook, Cauthen and Murphy each added two hits for the Cougars, who finished with 14 as a team.

Aherron (8-6) earned the win in the circle, allowing three runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts.

In Game 1, Salem got all the runs it needed in the second inning. The Spirits strung together three consecutive hits to open the frame — the latter of which brought in two runs on Brittany Morton's single through the right side. Morton later scored on Jennifer Vitarelli's RBI single to put Salem ahead by three.

The Spirits extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the seventh with Briana Crumley's RBI single.

Salem right-hander Lauryn Smith kept Averett's off-balanced all day at the plate. Smith scattered four hits over seven innings. Seniors Jessica Long and Hall, Grant and Cook accounted for Averett's hits — all singles.

Averett returns to action on Thursday when the Cougars host conference foe Meredith College for a 2 p.m. doubleheader.