CARY, N.C. — The Averett University baseball team dropped its first game 15-3 of a three-game USA South Conference against William Peace University on the road Friday evening. 
 
William Peace (10-8, 1-1 USA South) jumped out to a 2-0 advantage with two runs in the first inning and extended its edge with four more runs in the third inning to take a 6-0 lead. 
 
Averett (3-11, 2-2 USA South) got on the board with a run in the fourth inning when junior Nate Tuck walked and came around to score on two William Peace errors. 
 
The Pacers added a run in the bottom half of the inning to increase their gap back to 7-1, but the Cougars added two runs in the fifth to pull back within 7-3 of the Pacers. 
 
Junior Brandon Hatcher tallied an RBI single through the right side to score senior Ryan Traylor and freshman Zelgin Jackson followed Hatcher's single with an RBI knock to left field that plated junior Jason Maggs. 
 
However, William Peace scored four runs in the sixth and another four runs in the seventh to pick up the 15-3 win. 
 
The Cougars return back to action on Saturday when they travel back to Cary, North Carolina for a doubleheader against the Pacers beginning at noon.