DANVILLE, Va. — The Averett University baseball team dropped a 13-7 decision to Eastern Mennonite University, Wednesday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field.

Eastern Mennonite (6-6-1, 0-0 ODAC) added four runs in the top of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead early over the Cougars.

Averett (1-13, 0-6 USA South) cut into the Royals lead in the bottom of the second inning adding two runs, when sophomore Dante George singled scoring freshman Brandon Hatcher for the first run and senior A.J. Hart knocked in senior Matt Tuggle for the second.

However, Eastern Mennonite benefited from three runs in the top of the third inning to push its lead to 7-2, but Averett added another run in the bottom half of the inning when junior Chase McKinney singled to center field scoring junior Nick Winston to cut the deficit to 7-3.

The Cougars would hold the Royals scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings and add a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut into EMU's lead 7-4. Averett's fifth inning run came off the bat of sophomore Tanner Bradshaw that scored junior Sawyer Smith.

The Royals added three runs in the top half of the sixth inning to push the lead to 10-4, however the Cougars would not go quietly answering with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to pull within 10-7.

Winston singled to shortstop to score George for Averett's first run, later coming around to score when Smith reached on a fielding error. The Cougars added their final run on a single by McKinney that plated Smith.

Eastern Mennonite would stretch its lead to 13-7 following the seventh inning as the Royals connected for three runs in the inning.

McKinney led the Cougars on the afternoon finishing 3-4 from the plate with two RBI's, while Winston and George each added two hits apiece. Hatcher and Smith added the Cougars remaining two hits, while Smith and George each pitched an inning of scoreless relief, each striking out one.

Averett is set to return back to action Friday as they host Covenant College for the first of a three game USA South Conference stand with first pitch tentatively set for 10 a.m.