LAGRANGE, Ga. — East No. 1 seed Salem College defeated East No. 3 seed Averett University 5-1 Friday's winner's bracket game of the USA South Conference Tournament hosted at Shuford Softball Complex in LaGrange, Georgia.
 
Averett (19-21) will play East No. 2 seed Meredith College in an elimination game Saturday at 10 a.m.

Salem got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the third. The Spirits got an RBI single from Brianna Morris, an RBI double from Miranda Barker and an RBI single by Amanda Dacunto to go in front 3-0.

Averett scored its lone run when senior Amanda Wright crushed a home run to right field to lead off the top of the fourth. Wright had two of the Cougars' four hits.
Salem tacked on two insurance runs in the fifth to help clinch the game and send the Spirits along in the winner's bracket. Salem will play West No. 1 seed Maryville College at noon on Saturday.

Barker struck out seven while allowing just one run for a complete-game win.

Earlier in the day, Averett defeated West No. 2 seed Piedmont College 3-2.