LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Averett University baseball team dropped its season opener against the University of Lynchburg on Wednesday by the final of 11-9 on the road. 
 
Lynchburg (2-2) jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage over the Cougars in the bottom of the first inning following a two-run home run, but Averett put up five runs of its own in the top of the second to take a 5-2 advantage.  Senior Andrew Lancaster put the Cougars on the board with an RBI sac bunt to pull with 2-1, while junior Nate Tuck recorded an RBI single to center to tie the game a 2-2.
 
Averett (0-1) took the lead 3-2 off junior Brandon Hatcher's RBI single to center field and extend its lead to 5-2 when senior Tanner Bradshaw reached via a Lynchburg error that plated Hatcher and Tuck. 
 
Senior Ryan Traylor retired the Hornets 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second inning, giving way to the Cougars to put up four more runs in the top of the third inning to take a 9-2 edge. 
 
Sophomore Nolan Maccabe lead off Averett's four-run inning with a two RBI double to left center and Hatcher later followed that with an RBI double to center field, followed by a Bradshaw sac fly. 
 
However, Lynchburg's offense got hot in the bottom half of the inning adding a run of a bases loaded infield single, before plating four runs off a grand slam to pull within 7-9 of the Cougars. 
 
The Hornets took the lead 10-9 in the bottom of the fourth following a three RBI triple, before extending their lead to 11-9 later that same inning. 
 
The Cougars would leave three runners on in the top of the fifth inning, but were unable to push anything across as Lynchburg was able to escape the inning and hang on for the 11-9 win. 
 
Hatcher finished the afternoon 4-5 for the Cougars with two RBI's, while freshman Ryan Scheidere notched his first collegiate hit on pace for a two hit performance. Additionally, Maccabe, Tuck, sophomore Kyle Wilson and junior Dawsyn Hock all recorded hits for the Cougars. 
 
Averett returns to the diamond on Saturday when it hosts Brevard College for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Owen Fulton Field.