CARY, N.C. — The Averett University baseball team fell 5-3 to William Peace University in a tightly fought USA South Conference series opener 
 
Averett (4-22, 2-11 USA South) scored two runs in the fourth inning of Friday evenings contest to take an early 2-0 lead. The Cougars got on the board following junior Chase McKinney's single to right field that drove in sophomore Ryan Traylor. 
 
The Cougars added their second run on an RBI ground out by sophomore Tanner Bradshaw that scored junior Andrew Lancaster.
 
Averett plated its third run in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 3-0 advantage when Traylor singled through the right side scoring sophomore Martin Nicolay from second. 
 
William Peace (7-17, 3-10 USA South) pulled within one run in the bottom of the seventh inning plating two runs to cut the Cougars lead to 3-2.
 
Senior Matt Tuggle who got the start on the evening pitched seven strong innings, including five no-hit innings, scattering five hits while being tagged with two runs and striking out four batters. 
 
Tuggle was lifted prior to the eighth inning as the Pacers tied the game at 3-3 before lifting the game-winning two-run home run to left field to take a 5-3 lead over the Cougars. 
 
Traylor wrapped up Friday 3-5 from the plate driving in one run and scoring another. In addition to Traylor, junior Nick Winston, Lancaster, McKinney and Bradshaw all added hits. 
 
The Cougars played a solid game defensively, not committing an error on the evening as McKinney returned back to third base to record a game-high four assists. 
 
Averett and William Peace square off tomorrow for Game 2 of its three-game conference series with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.