FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The Averett University baseball team dropped a highly contested double header to Methodist University Saturday in USA South Conference doubleheader action.
 
The Monarchs entered the day currently receiving votes in the NCAA Division III National Baseball poll, marking the third straight opponent the Cougars have battled who have either been ranked or been receiving votes. 
 
Game 1:
 
Averett (1-10, 0-5 USA South) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when freshman Brandon Hatcher doubled down the right field line driving in junior Chase McKinney. 
 
The Cougars plated two more runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead, when senior Kyle Vidano scored on a wild pitch and McKinney hit an infield single to third base that drove in junior Cody Jones. 
 
Methodist (9-2, 2-0, USA South) got two runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning on a two RBI triple to center field by Ethan Carmack. 
 
Averett took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, but a leadoff home run by Carmack evened the game at 3-3.
 
The Monarchs took the 4-3 final on an RBI bunt single that plated the deciding run. 
 
McKinney paced the Cougars on the afternoon with a 2-4 performance at the plate, driving in one run and score another, while Jones and Hatcher also had impressive games at the plate.
 
Senior Matt Tuggle got the start for the Cougars pitching three solid innings, scattering four hits and striking out one before being lifted due to pitch count. 
 
Game 2:
 
For the second straight game, the Cougars put up a run in the second inning to take an early 1-0 lead when sophomore Tanner Bradshaw singled, driving in McKinney. 
 
Methodist plated runs in the third, fourth and fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead before scoring one more in the seventh and two in the eighth to increase its advantage to 6-1. 
 
Bradshaw finished the evening 3-4 from the plate with one RBI, while freshman Collin Clark who started on the mound for the Cougars pitched six solid innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four batters. 
 
Additionally, junior Nick Winston collected two hits for Averett while McKinney continued his hot streak adding two hits and walking once in the contest.
 
Senior Dillon Roberts pitched well in relief for the Cougars allowing a lone hit and striking out two in one inning of work.
 
Averett returns back to action Monday as it closes out a three game series with Methodist with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.