BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Averett University baseball scored five runs in the first inning to set the tone as the Cougars took down Bridgewater College 12-7 in non-conference action on Wednesday afternoon.

Averett (7-21) jumped on Bridgewater (10-14) in the top of the first. Freshmen Chip Granderson and Chase McKinney reached on singles, and Granderson came around to score thanks to a Bridgewater error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. Junior Bradley Tickle added an RBI single and sophomore A.J. Hart followed with an RBI double to make it 3-0. The Cougars added two more runs on junior Dallas Smithers' sac fly and sophomore Matt Tuggle's RBI single to give them a five-run advantage.

Although the Eagles got one run back in the bottom of the first, Averett answered with a run of its own in the second inning.

Averett's lead was trimmed to 6-4 by the fourth inning, but the Cougars added a pair of runs in the sixth. Senior Trey Wall had an RBI double to left-center and McKinney had an RBI bunt single to put Averett ahead 8-4.

The Cougars tacked on two more runs in each of the seventh and ninth innings to help pull away.

Averett pounded out 13 hits as a team, with Granderson, McKinney and Hart each finishing with three apiece.

Senior Cody Johnson (3-5) earned the win, pitching in relief. Freshman Sawyer Smith finished off the final 3 2/3 innings to earn his first career save.

Averett is scheduled to host a three-game conference series with William Peace University, beginning Friday.