MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Averett University baseball team dropped its USA South Conference opening weekend doubleheader to Huntingdon College by finals of 9-7 and 7-1 on the road Saturday. 
 
Game 1:
 
Averett (1-6, 0-2 USA South) drew first blood Saturday afternoon in its USA South Conference opener when junior Chase McKinney tripled to deep center driving in senior Kyle Vidano and junior Sawyer Smith to open the first inning.
 
Huntingdon (8-0, 2-0 USA South) pulled within one after Will Cosby homered to right field in the bottom half of the inning. 
 
The Hawks struck for four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 6-2 lead, however the Cougars would not go quietly as junior Andrew Lancaster singled to center field scoring McKinney, giving way for sophomore Ryan Traylor who crushed a two run home run to left field that pulled Averett within 6-5.
 
Huntingdon benefited from a run in the bottom half of the sixth inning, but Traylor would do damage again in the top half of the seventh inning when he doubled up the middle plating Lancaster and junior Cody Jones to tie the contest at 7-7. 
 
The Hawks scored runs in the both the bottom half of the seventh and eighth inning to take a 9-7 lead, making way for Traylor to collect his third hit of the afternoon and second double, but the damage had been done as Huntingdon got the final out of the ninth to preserve the victory.
 
The Cougars collected a season-high 12 hits and seven runs, as Traylor paced the club with three hits and four runs batted in, while McKinney also collected three hits and Jones added two.
 
Freshman Josh Adkins took the loss for the Cougars, however the righty impressed on the mound throwing four and a third innings of relief, scattering four hits, striking out one, while surrendering two runs, only one earned. 
 
Game 2:
 
Following two scoreless innings to open the second game of Saturday's conference doubleheader Vidano got the Cougars on the board lacing a double to right center the plated freshman Brandon Hatcher. 
 
However, Huntingdon got the bats going scoring three runs in the bottom of the third and another three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. 
 
The Hawks added an insurance run in the eight to push their lead to 7-1 as Averett who finished the game with eight hits was unable to get a late rally started. 
Jones finished an impressive 4-4 for the game including a double, while Vidano and Hatcher each added a pair of hits apiece and freshman Jason Maggs contributed the remaining Averett hit. 
 
Sophomore Tyler Butler pitched well in relief for the Cougars striking out four batters in three innings of work, while surrendering six hits a lone run. 
 
Huntingdon starter Books Freeman held the Cougars at bay for eight innings, allowing one run on eight hits and striking out seven batters. 
 
The Cougars return back to action Sunday as they close out the USA South Conference opening series with Huntingdon with first pitch set for noon.