MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Averett University baseball team dropped its USA South Conference opening double header by finals of 5-0 and 5-4 to Huntingdon College on Saturday. 
 
Averett (0-7, 0-2 USA South) fell victim to a five-run bottom of the fifth inning in Game 1 after Junior Cole Spain impressed through the opening four innings, allowing only one hit and striking out three. 

While senior Chase McKinney finished 2-4 at the plate and swiped a bag in the loss. 
 
The Cougars tied to turn the tide in Game 2 jumping out to an early 2-0 advantage, after benefitting on two runs off RBI singles by junior Ryan Traylor and senior Andrew Lancaster.
 
Huntingdon (5-1, 2-0 USA South) got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating three runs to take a 3-2 advantage and added a lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 4-2. 
 
The Cougars got a run back in the top half of the sixth inning following a leadoff double by senior Cody Jones, who came around to cut into the Hawks lead at 4-3. 
 
Huntingdon extended its lead back to two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning at 5-3, but sophomore Brandon Hatcher laced a two-out RBI single to left field to cut back into the Hawks lead at 5-4.
 
Offensively, Jones racked up three hits for the Cougars, finishing 3-4 from the plate with two doubles in route to the Cougars controlling a 12 to five hit advantage. Additionally juniors Ryan Traylor and Zach Cameron collected two hits for Averett.
 
Freshman starter Tyler Nuckols impressed yet again on the mound, pitching seven complete innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out a career-high seven batters. 
 
The Cougars return back to action on Sunday when they close out their three-game series with Huntingdon with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.