DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball got key hitting and a strong pitching performance to take the second game 8-1 to earn a split against non-conference foe Roanoke College on Sunday afternoon at Cougar Field. Roanoke took the opener 7-1
Averett (23-12) opened Game 2 with a positive start, plating a pair of runs in the first inning. Junior Kaitlyn Aherron led off with a double to left-center, and freshman Hannah Thompson followed with an RBI single to put the Cougars ahead 1-0 on Roanoke (16-15). Following a single by freshman Anna Coleman, which put runners on the corners, Averett executed a perfect double steal make it 2-0.
The Cougars broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back RBI singles by juniors Taylor Bailey and Casey Cook extended Averett's advantage to 4-0. Thompson followed later in the inning with a bases-clearing, three-run double down the left field line to make it a seven-run lead. Thompson then came home from second on an infield single by Coleman to second base, making it 8-0.
Roanoke avoided the run rule in the top of the fifth after scoring on a bases-loaded fielder's choice for their only run. Bailey (5-4) limited the Maroons to only six hits and one unearned run over seven innings in the circle while striking out three.
Bailey also finished with two hits at the plate. Thompson and Coleman also finished with a pair of hits, with Thompson driving in four runs.
Roanoke jumped in front from the start in Game 1. Meagan Evans connected for a three-run homer to left field in the top of the first inning. The Maroons added four more runs in the fourth following a leadoff walk and two consecutive fielder's choices on sacrifice bunt attempts that didn't yield an out. A two-run single by Rebecca Hensley made it 5-0, and Roanoke added a run on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to take a seven-run lead.
Averett's lone run in the opener came on junior Breanna Murphy's RBI groundout, which scored Thompson in the bottom of the fourth.
Thompson and Coleman accounted for Averett's four hits in Game 1.
Averett continues conference play on Tuesday when the Cougars travel to Salem College for a doubleheader.
