DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University baseball team split a conference doubleheader with William Peace University on Saturday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field. The Cougars fell 13-3 in the first game and defeated the Pacers 8-4 in the second game.
 
In the first matchup, William Peace (14-18, 5-8 USA South) scored three runs in the first inning to pull ahead early. The Pacers continued to tack on runs, with one each in the third and fourth frames as a result of two doubles. Before Averett (8-22, 3-11 USA South) could get on the board, William Peace put up six runs in the fifth frame. With the bases loaded, the Pacers scored on two walks, a wild pitch and a single through the right side. 
 
Averett managed to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh to prevent a shutout. Freshman Chip Granderson doubled down the left field line to bat in senior catcher Trey Wall while freshman Chase McKinney's sacrifice-fly ran in BK Stancil.
 
Sophomore A.J. Hart went 3-for-4 to lead the Cougars.
 
In the second game, Averett built a 5-3 lead by the end of the fifth inning after putting up four runs in the frame. Before the inning, Averett trailed 3-1, but junior Bradley Tickle helped give the Cougars a 4-3 advantage with an RBI groundout to second base while Hart's RBI single to left center gave Averett some cushion that eventually led to the win.
 
Freshman shortstop Hunter LePrell went 2-for-4 with two RBIs as Matt Tuggle got the pitching win. The Cougars finished with 14 hits.
 
Averett returns to the field on Sunday for the finale of the three-game conference series.