DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University swept Methodist University to begin USA South Conference play on Saturday. Senior right-hander Kaitlyn Aherron nearly no-hit the Monarchs in a 6-0 win to begin the day, and Averett also topped Methodist 6-1 to pick up a doubleheader sweep in its home opener.

Aherron struck out nine in the circle during the opener and her only blemish was a two-out bloop single in the top of the seventh. Meanwhile, Averett (2-6, 2-0 USA South) had plenty of offense to back up Aherron's effort in Game 1 against Methodist (3-11, 0-2 USA South).

Junior Kourtnie Blankenship's RBI groundout gave Averett a 1-0 lead in the first inning, and senior Casey Cook added an RBI single, followed by an RBI double by Aherron to extend the Cougars' lead to 3-0 in the second inning. Freshman Chloe Horton added a two-run double that just missed going over the fence by inches in the fifth and Aherron drove in another run with a single up the middle in the sixth to put away the Monarchs to open the day.

Aherron went 3-for-4 in Game 1 and Cook also had a multi-hit game for Averett.

In Game 2, Horton added another RBI double to give the Cougars a 1-0 edge, and junior Hannah Thompson's double coupled with a Methodist error helped three more runs score later in the third inning as Averett jumped in front 4-0. Thompson added a two-run single in the fifth to extend Averett's advantage to 6-0.

Methodist's lone run came in the top of the seventh when an error extended the inning, and an RBI groundout put the Monarchs on the board to avoid back-to-back shutouts.

Horton, Thompson and junior Anna Coleman each had two hits in Game 2 as Thompson struck out four to earn the win in the circle.

Averett travels to Randolph College for a non-conference doubleheader on Sunday.