FERRUM, Va. — Averett University softball swept a doubleheader with conference foe Ferrum College on Sunday to finish the regular season. The Cougars dominated the first game 14-5 in six innings, then held off the Panthers 6-2.
 
With the two wins, Averett (22-18, 14-8 USA South) clinched a tie for second in the USA South's East Division and earned the No. 2 seed in the East during the postseason and a home series in the opening round. The Cougars host East No. 5 seed Greensboro College for a best-of-three series beginning Saturday, April 8.
 
Averett entered the day needing a solid performance in order to finish in the top three of the East Division and clinch a home series in the divisional round of the conference playoffs. The Cougars succeeded by jumping on Ferrum (17-12, 14-8 USA South) in the opener. Sophomore Essence Pulliam's RBI single broke a 2-2 tie in the second inning, and Averett began to pull away in the fifth with three more runs to go ahead 6-2.
 
The Cougars broke the game open in the sixth inning. After loading the bases, Ferrum issued back-to-back bases-loaded walks to make it 8-2, and a third Panthers error of the inning allowed another run to score. With the bases still loaded, freshman Kaitlyn Aherron smacked a grand slam to center field for her sixth home run of the season. Freshman Breanna Murphy added an RBI single to give Averett a commanding 14-2 advantage.
 
Although Ferrum got three runs in the bottom of the sixth, it wasn't enough to prolong the game.
 
Aherron had a monster Game 1, finishing 3-for-4 at the plate with six runs batted in and two runs scored. Senior Samantha Hall, freshman Casey Cook and Pulliam each added two hits. Hall also finished with three stolen bases and three runs scored.
 
Freshman right-hander Taylor Bailey (12-8) notched the win allowing no earned runs over six innings.
 
Aherron continued her dominance at the plate in Game 2. She added a three-run homer in the top of the first inning to put the Cougars ahead 3-0. Senior Jessica Long added an RBI triple in the second inning to give Averett a four-run cushion early.
 
Ferrum answered with a run in the fourth and fifth innings to close within two, but Averett extended its lead again in the seventh on sophomore Andrea Grant's RBI single and Cook's RBI double.
 
Aherron (9-8) also picked up the win in the circle, striking out a career-high 11 batters.
 
Long and Hall each had a pair of hits.