SALEM, Va. — Averett University softball swept a road doubleheader against non-conference foe Roanoke College on Thursday evening. The Cougars crushed the Maroons 9-0 in five innings to open play, then held off Roanoke 4-3 in the nightcap.

In a tight Game 2, Averett (10-2) got a go-ahead solo homer from sophomore Erin Rankin to put the Cougars in front 4-3 in the top of the fifth. From there, senior Kaitlyn Aherron (2-1) limited Roanoke (9-9) to only one hit and two walks over the final three innings to preserve the win.

Much like Game 1, Averett jumped on Roanoke early in Game 2. Aherron doubled in the first and later scored on sophomore Hannah Thompson's RBI single to put the Cougars ahead 1-0. Roanoke, however, answered with back-to-back RBI doubles in the bottom half of the inning to go in front 2-1.

Aherron came through again in the top of the third, crushing a two-run homer to center field to help Averett take a 3-2 advantage. Once again, Roanoke answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning.

Tied 3-3 entering the top of the fifth, Rankin entered as a pinch hitter with one out and put one over the left field fence for her first homer of the season, which proved to be the difference.

Aherron, Thompson and junior Myka Patterson each had two hits in Game 2. Aherron struck out four while allowing just one run in five innings of relief in the circle.

Averett dominated the opening game from the start. Sophomore Anna Coleman's two-run triple got the Cougars going in the first inning, and Coleman later came home on senior Nicole Cauthen's RBI single up the middle to give Averett a 3-0 advantage. Thompson's RBI single in the second inning and Patterson's RBI single in the third made the score 5-0 in favor of the Cougars.

Coleman added an RBI single to left in the fourth inning, which also scored an additional run thanks to a Maroon error on the play. Senior Mallory Griffiths added a two-run single up the middle in the fifth to extend the lead to 9-0.

That was plenty for senior pitcher Dani Kahn (2-0), who threw a gem in the circle. She allowed just two hits with no walks or runs in five innings.

Thompson, Coleman and Patterson each had two hits for the Cougars, who had 10 hits as a team.

The two wins snapped a six-game losing skid to Roanoke for Averett.

Averett is scheduled to host Maryville College on Saturday.