DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University baseball dropped the opening game of its conference series with Ferrum College 6-2 on Friday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field.
 
After grabbing a 1-0 advantage in the first inning, Ferrum (19-13, 12-4 USA South) extended its lead to 3-0 in the third when Lane Deaver made use of the 18-mph winds blowing out of the park and blasted a two-run homer to right field. Averett (8-25, 3-13 USA South) closed the gap to 3-1 in the fifth on freshman Adam George's RBI double to right-center, which scored sophomore Matt Tuggle.
 
Ferrum plated two more runs in the sixth, but Averett again answered with a run to get back within 5-2 in the bottom half of the frame. The Panthers added a sixth run in the seventh inning with the help of an Averett error.
 
Right-hander Dillon Weaver limited the Cougars to just three hits over five innings. Left-hander Brandon Turner pitched the final four innings to earn the save.
 
George had two hits for Averett, and Tuggle had one.
 
Averett and Ferrum battle in Game 2 of their three-game series on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.