EMORY, Va. — Averett University softball opened the season with a pair of non-conference losses to Emory & Henry College on Thursday. The Cougars fell 11-0 in both games.

Averett (0-2), seeing its first action against an opposing team since March 12, 2020, couldn't get its offense going against Emory & Henry (4-0), which had four games and two exhibitions under its belt already this season.

Emory & Henry took Game 1 after pulling away in the fourth and fifth innings. The Wasps scored on an unearned run in the first inning and added a second unearned run in the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. An RBI single in the third inning increased Emory & Henry's advantage to 3-0. Averett gave up four runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth as Emory & Henry sealed the win.

The Wasps limited the Cougars to only two hits — back-to-back singles from juniors Anna Coleman and Hannah Thompson in the second inning — and the Cougars couldn't capitalize on opportunities while leaving six runners on base. Averett only allowed five hits to Emory & Henry, but errors and walks helped lead to big innings for the Wasps.

Emory & Henry got a two-run homer in the first inning of Game 2 to jump in front, and later added another two-run blast in the third as part of a seven-run inning. The Wasps added two more runs in the fourth to pull away.

Averett's only two hits in Game 2 game in its final trip to the plate in the top of the fifth. Juniors Elena Lewis and Lauren Johnston each singled.

Averett is scheduled to return to the field on March 7 at the University of Lynchburg.