LEXINGTON, Va. — Averett University baseball opened the 2018 season with a pair of losses at Washington and Lee University on Friday. The Cougars dropped a seven-inning contest 6-0, then lost 11-7 in nine innings in the nightcap.

After dropping the opener, Averett (0-2) found its offense in Game 2. However, mistakes haunted the Cougars for most of the day. Three errors in the first inning allowed Washington and Lee (2-0) to go ahead 3-0. Yet, Averet immediately answered in the bottom half of the first. Senior Dallas Smithers singled home junior A.J. Hart for the Cougars' first run of the season, and sophomore Neil Hutchens followed with a two-run single to right field to tie the game at 3-3.

Another error in the second inning led to two runs, putting the Generals back in front. Still, Averett responded in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Cody Jones and freshman Tanner Bradshaw each had RBI singles to knot the game, 5-5. Once again, Washington and Lee went back in front 6-5 in the third thanks to another error. Averett caught a break in the bottom of the third as sophomore Zach DeCarlo singled and later scored on a throwing error, tying the game. An RBI groundout gave Averett a 7-6 lead moments later.

Washington and Lee broke out for four runs in the fifth, which proved to be the difference. The Generals added an insurance run in the ninth.

Averett outhit Washington and Lee 13-10 in Game 2 while only allowing five earned runs. Junior Kyle Vidano went 4-for-6 with a pair of steals in the nightcap, while Jones and Hutchens each had two hits.

The Cougars' pitching also fared well in the opener despite the loss. Only one of the Generals' runs was earned. Washington and Lee took an early 1-0 lead in the first, added two runs in the second and three more in the fourth to pull away.

The two teams were scheduled to open the season with a Saturday doubleheader in Danville, followed by a single game in Lexington on Sunday. Rain the forecast shifted the series to a doubleheader Friday in Lexington. The opener was a scheduled seven-inning game, and the second game was a nine-inning game where Averett was the home team.

Saturday's rescheduled single game between the Cougars and Generals was canceled due to the impending inclement weather.

Averett travels to Guilford College on Wednesday.