DEMOREST, Ga. — Junior Kaitlyn Aherron's walk-off RBI single lifted Averett University softball to a 3-2 season-opening win over Emory & Henry College to highlight the first day of the season on Friday at the Piedmont College Classic. The Cougars' comeback fell short in their second game as they lost 5-3 to host Piedmont.
 
In its opener, Averett (1-1) led 2-0 entering the final inning. Emory & Henry (2-2) rallied to tie the game with a two-run single in the top of the seventh. Yet, Averett answered the challenge in its final at-bat. Senior Essence Pulliam reached on an infield single with one out. After the Cougars sacrifice bunted to move Pulliam over to second base, Aherron drove her in with a double to the left-center gap to give the Cougars an exciting win in their first game of the season.

Averett led 1-0 after the first inning when Aherron scored on an error. Aherron came home again on freshman Anna Coleman's RBI single in the third inning to give the Cougars a 2-0 advantage on Emory & Henry. Coleman and Aherron accounted for four of Averett's five hits.

Junior Taylor Bailey (1-0) earned the win in the circle, striking out three while scattering four hits with one walk over 6.1 innings.

The win was also first-year Averett head coach Natalie Ruechel's first career victory.

In Game 2 against host Piedmont, the Lions jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI bunt single, then extended their lead to 3-0 in the third with an RBI double in the non-conference matchup between two conference foes.

Averett broke through on the scoreboard when freshman Zamyiah Mangum ripped an RBI double to left-center, scoring junior Nicole Cauthen to close the deficit to 4-1 in the top of the fourth. Yet, Piedmont answered with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Down 5-1, Averett tried to rally in the top of the seventh. Junior Casey Cook singled down the right field line to bring Pulliam home, and Aherron followed with a sacrifice fly to score junior Mallory Griffiths. Piedmont then got the final out to close the game and escape with the two-run win.
Mangum finished with two of Averett's seven hits.

The Cougars used three pitchers in the circle, with Aherron striking out four while allowing just one hit in 2.1 innings.

Averett was supposed to open the season on Saturday, but the weather forecast forced tournament officials to alter the schedule, and the Cougars began play a day early against two opponents not originally on the schedule.

Averett returns to action on Saturday to finish play at the Piedmont Classic. The Cougars were scheduled to play No. 13 Berry College at 9 a.m. and face Birmingham Southern College at 1 p.m. However, due to another change in the tournament schedule, Averett will not play Berry or Birmingham Southern. Instead, Averett will play Centre College at 1 p.m. at Piedmont before returning home.