FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Averett University softball used the long ball to open conference play with a pair of wins over Methodist University on Tuesday. Averett won the opener 3-1 and finished off the doubleheader sweep with an 11-4 victory.

In Game 1, Averett (8-2, 2-0 USA South) took an early 1-0 lead on senior Kaitlyn Aherron's sacrifice fly in the first inning, which scored sophomore Lauren Johnston from third. Aherron followed that with a two-run homer to center field in her next at-bat in the third inning, extending Averett's lead to 3-0.

Although Methodist (9-9, 0-2 USA South) got on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the fifth, Averett senior pitcher Taylor Bailey closed the door in relief by pitching a perfect sixth and seventh inning to notch her third save of the season.

Sophomore Hannah Thompson (3-0) earned the win, striking out five in five innings in the circle. She also had two of Averett's six hits in the opening game against Methodist.
Both Thompson and Aherron played big factors in the nightcap win as well. Aherron reached on a first inning single, and Thompson followed with a two-run blast to left field to give Averett an early 2-0 advantage. 

After the Cougars added two more runs in the third thanks to a Methodist error, the Monarchs fought back to tie the game, 4-4, in the fourth inning with a four-run frame. Averett, however, retook the lead in the top of the fifth after Thompson scored on a passed ball after getting on with a leadoff double.

Up 5-4, the Cougars pulled away in the sixth as Aherron hammered a three-run homer to left-center. An error allowed two more runs to score in the same inning, increasing Averett's lead to 10-4. The Cougars added another insurance run in the seventh when Johnston scored on a wild pitch.

Although Methodist threatened in the bottom of the seventh, Aherron (1-1) got out of the jam unharmed to earn the complete-game win. She struck out eight in seven innings.

Aherron went 3-for-5 in Game 2 with three RBIs to finish the day with a combined four hits and six RBIs. Thompson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Both Aherron and Thompson scored three runs apiece.

Averett travels to non-conference foe Roanoke College on Thursday at 5 p.m.