HARRISONBURG, Va. — Averett University softball extended its winning streak to six games with a doubleheader sweep of non-conference foe Eastern Mennonite University on Sunday. The Cougars combined for four homers and 20 hits to win 5-3 and 6-2 over the Royals.

In the opener, Averett (15-6) overcame a second inning homer by Eastern Mennonite (8-4) with freshman Erin Rankin's two-run blast to right-center in the top of the third, surging the Cougars ahead 2-1. Averett added a crucial insurance run in the top of the fifth when freshman Hannah Thompson scored on a Royals error to increase the Cougars' advantage to two runs.

Eastern Mennonite closed the gap to 3-2 by scoring on a wild pitch following a triple in the bottom of the fifth. However, Averett once again responded. Kaitlyn Aherron moved within one home run of tying the program's career mark with a two-run shot to center field, which gave the Cougars a 5-2 advantage.

Although the Royals got a solo homer in the sixth, Averett held on with the help of a key double play in the bottom of the seventh.

Aherron, freshman Anna Coleman and Thompson each contributed two hits to the offense in Game 1. Freshman Kaity Sullivan (2-0) earned the win in relief, while Aherron notched her fifth save of the season.

In Game 2, Averett jumped in front 2-0 on Thompson's two-run homer to right-center in the top of the first. However, Eastern Mennonite fought back to tie the game 2-2 with RBI singles in the first and second inning, respectively.

Freshman Zamyiah Mangum's RBI single to left field in the top of the third pushed Averett back in front, and junior Breanna Murphy's RBI sacrifice fly moments later helped the Cougars take a 4-2 advantage.

The Royals got a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the third, but Thompson got the Cougars out of the jam with three consecutive strikeouts. Thompson (8-2) also struck out the side in the sixth inning to finish with eight strikeouts on the day while earning the win in relief.

The Cougars tacked on two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh on Mangum's two-run homer to left field — her second career homer and second in as many days.
Thompson and Mangum, along with junior Casey Cook, each had two hits for Averett.

Averett returns to action at home on Wednesday when the Cougars open USA South Conference play with Mary Baldwin University at 2 p.m.