RALEIGH, N.C. — Averett University softball lost a pair of conference games at William Peace University on Saturday, falling 6-5 and 5-2.

In the opener, freshman Anna Thompson crushed a game-tying solo homer to lead off the top of the seventh inning to give Averett (17-8, 2-2 USA South) life. However, William Peace (7-6, 2-0 USA South) answered in the bottom of the inning. After giving up back-to-back leadoff singles, Averett got the next two outs. However, a walk loaded the bases and an infield error allowed the game-winning run to score.

Down 1-0 early, Averett went in front 2-1 thanks to a Pacers error that allowed freshman Erin Rankin and Coleman to score on the play in the third inning. Junior Casey Cook added an RBI single in the fourth to extend Averett's lead to 3-1.

Yet, William Peace responded in the fifth as Kristen Bailly hit a solo homer and Olivia Oates had an RBI groundout to knot the game at 3-3. Averett inched ahead 4-3 in the top of the sixth on another Cook RBI single only to see the Pacers jump in front 5-4 in the bottom of the frame before Coleman tied it with her blast.

Coleman, Cook and junior Breanna Murphy each had two hits in the opener for Averett.

In the second game, Coleman homered in the first inning to put Averett ahead 1-0. William Peace overtook the Cougars in the third after getting an RBI single and an RBI double. Averett fought back to tie the game 2-2 on junior Nicole Cauthen's RBI sacrifice bunt in the fourth.

William Peace pulled away in the fourth with a two-run double, and added an insurance run in the sixth on another RBI double that extended the lead to three runs.

Coleman, Murphy and freshman Hannah Thompson accounted for Averett's three hits.

Averett returns to action on Sunday at N.C. Wesleyan College.