DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball got solid pitching and timely hits in a non-conference doubleheader sweep of Randolph College on Sunday at Cougar Field. Averett won 5-3 and 6-1 over the WildCats.
 
Averett (6-2) held off Randolph (4-10) late in Game 1. The Cougars built a 2-0 lead with the help of senior Casey Cook's RBI double in the second inning, and added two more runs in the third, including one on a sacrifice fly by junior Myka Patterson.

Randolph trimmed the Averett lead to 4-1 with a double steal in the fifth, but Averett got the run back in the sixth on a bases-loaded RBI fielder's choice. Down 5-1 in the seventh inning, the WildCats didn't go away quietly. Randolph got a two-run double by Alyssa Sword to pull the WildCats within two. With the tying run in scoring position, senior pitcher Taylor Bailey induced a game-ending pop-up in the circle to preserve the win.

Bailey notched her second save of the season after coming in during the seventh inning. Senior Dani Kahn (1-0) got the win after striking out four in six-plus innings of work.
 
In Game 2, Randolph struck first, scoring after the Cougars bobbled the ball on a single to the outfield in the top of the first. Down 1-0, sophomore Hannah Thompson tripled to lead off the second inning and came home on senior Brianna Harris' RBI single to left to tie the game. Averett then took the lead the following inning on sophomore Anna Coleman's RBI single, which scored Bailey from second following a leadoff double.

Sophomore Elena Lewis and Thompson each had RBI doubles in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively to extend the Averett lead to 4-1, and the Cougars tacked on two more runs in the sixth to pull away.

Bailey (3-1) got the victory in the circle in Game 2, going the distance. She worked out of several jams, including a key moment in the top of the third when Randolph loaded the bases with no outs. She induced two ground balls to third that led to forceouts at home before ending the frame with a groundout to second to avoid allowing a run that inning.

Coleman and Thompson each had a pair of hits for the Cougars in the second game, with Coleman driving in two runs and scoring once.

Averett begins conference play on Tuesday when the Cougars travel to Methodist University for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.