BUENA VISTA, Va. — Averett University softball swept a conference doubleheader at Southern Virginia University on Tuesday, winning 14-4 in five innings and 5-3.

In the opener, Averett (11-7, 4-2 USA South) began the game with four runs in the first inning. The Cougars loaded the bases with three consecutive singles before a walk to freshman Grace Watlington plated the first run. Senior Hannah Thompson added an RBI single, sophomore Olivia Jones had a sacrifice fly and freshman Hannah Jones knocked an RBI double to account for the scoring plays in the opening frame. Averett tacked on four more runs in the third as freshman Peyton Lowery had an RBI single and senior Elena Lewis added an RBI double.

After giving up a run in the bottom of the third to Southern Virginia (2-20, 0-4 USA South), Averett's lead grew to 12-1 on sophomore Briana Battinelli's grand slam in the top of the fourth inning. Although the Knights answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, Averett got a two-run homer from junior Hannah Heath to pull away to a 14-4 win by run rule.

Lowery had three hits, while freshman Angela Rodriguez, Lewis, Heath and Batttinelli each had two hits in Game 1.

Freshman Madison Adams earned the win in the circle.

In Game 2, Averett again started hot as senior Anna Coleman stroked a two-run homer. Although Southern Virginia answered with its own two-run homer in the bottom of the first, Averett again scored twice in the second inning as Rodriguez dropped a two-RBI single down the left field line to give the Cougars a 4-2 lead. Averett added its fifth run in the fifth and held on to win by two after the Knights scored in the bottom of the seventh. 

Lowery, Coleman, senior Kourtnie Blankenship and Hannah Jones each had two hits for the Cougars. 

Averet hosts Randolph College on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Read Full Article