DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball rallied from a late four-run deficit and held off William Peace University in Game 2 to earn a doubleheader split with the Pacers on Sunday at Cougar Field. Averett won the finale 12-10 after falling 4-2 in the opener.

In Game 2, Averett (9-9, 3-1 USA South) held a 4-2 lead through four innings before the wheels came off in the fifth inning. William Peace (9-9, 1-1 USA South) racked up eight runs — seven unearned — on four hits, four walks and one error.

Down 10-4, the Cougars scratched away two runs of that six-run deficit in the bottom of the fifth on freshman Casey Cook's RBI double down the left field line and sophomore Andrea Grant's RBI double to left.

Still trailing 10-6, Averett got its offense going in the bottom of the sixth. The Cougars book-ended a walk with a pair of hits to load the bases at the start of the inning. A Pacers fielding error scored sophomore Taylor Hodges and senior Jessica Long, getting the Cougars back within two runs. Averett closed within one on an RBI groundout. After a walk put runners on the corners with only one out, junior Amanda Wright crushed a two-run triple down into the left field corner to push the Cougars back in front 11-10. Averett added another insurance run on a groundout moments later.

Despite swinging the momentum in its favor, William Peace didn't go away easily in the top of the seventh. Three consecutive singles with one out loaded the bases. However, Wright — who came in to pitch in relief to start the sixth inning — induced a pair of pop-ups to end the threat and preserve the comeback win.

Wright, a left-hander making her first collegiate pitching appearance, earned the victory in relief by pitching two scoreless innings with one strikeout.

Freshman Kaitlyn Aherron went 3-for-4 in Game 2 with three RBIs, including a two-run, inside-the-park homer to center field in the first inning.

In the opener, William Peace scored three runs in the third to take the early lead. Averett got one back in the bottom half of the inning on Aherron's RBI single, and pulled within 3-2 on freshman Nicole Cauthen's RBI double in the sixth.

After the Pacers extended their lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh, Averett had a chance to tie or take the lead in the bottom of the frame. The Cougars loaded the bases but couldn't get a run across.

Aherron, Grant and Hodges each had two hits in the opener for Averett.

The Cougars travel to play Salisbury University on Tuesday to start a 12-game road stretch.