DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University baseball's late comeback attempt fell short as William Peace University won 6-4 in Game 1 of the three-game conference series Friday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field.

Trailing 6-0 through four and a half innings, Averett (8-22, 4-9 USA South) chipped away to get within two runs in the final innings. However, William Peace (13-14, 5-8 USA South) held on in the ninth despite allowing the tying run to get to the plate.

William Peace opened with a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The Pacers took advantage of an error, which proved to be costly for the Cougars. With the wind blowing out, Christian Dix knocked a two-run double to deep right field, and Tyler Tilson hit a two-run homer to straight-away center field. All four runs were unearned. 

The Pacers added insurance runs in the second and fifth innings on an RBI single to center and a sacrifice fly to center, respectively, to grow the lead to 6-0.

Averett broke through for a run in the bottom half of the fifth. Junior Kyle Vidano reached on a bunt single and stole second base to get into scoring position for Neil Hutchens, who drove him in with an RBI single down the right field line.

???????Hutchens came through again in the seventh with another RBI single in nearly the exact same spot down the right field line, scoring sophomore Zach DeCarlo to close the gap to 6-2.

Averett inched closer in the eighth inning, as well. With the bases loaded and two outs, senior Dallas Smithers singled through the right side, scoring senior Bradley Tickle and freshman Tyler Bianco to help the Cougars get within 6-4.

The Cougars made some more noise in the ninth as junior Matt Tuggle smacked a one-out double down the left field line. However, left-hander Ben Brann got the final two outs to earn the save.

???????Averett outhit William Peace 12-9, with Hutchens going 4-for-5. Vidano and Tickle each had two hits as well for the Cougars.

Freshmen Ben Kimberlin and Dillon Touchard combined to pitch four shutout innings in relief.

Averett and William Peace finish their three-game series with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.