DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball rallied from behind in the opening game to beat Southern Virginia University 5-4, but the Cougars dropped the second game 12-4 in six innings to split a non-conference doubleheader with the Knights on Tuesday at Cougar Field.
 
Southern Virginia (7-13) jumped on Averett (11-11) early in the opening game, pounding out five hits to take a 4-0 advantage in the top of the first. However, the Cougars countered in the bottom half of the inning with sophomore Kadence Woodlief's two-run double to left-center to pull Averett within 4-2. The Cougars inched closer, narrowing the gap to 4-3 in the second inning on sophomore Carson Bradsher's RBI single up the middle.

Averett made its move in the fifth. Senior Angela Rodriguez smacked an RBI single to left field to bring home sophomore Mackenzie Newcomb with the tying run, and moments later junior Kailey Gates' RBI groundout scored Woodlief with the go-ahead run.

After a tough first inning, junior right-hander Hannah Zabik settled in and shut down Southern Virginia. After allowing four hits in the first inning, she only surrendered four more hits the rest of the game while strikeout out five to earn the win — her seventh of the season.

Woodlief led the offense with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate in Game 1, while Bradsher also finished with three hits.

In Game 2, Southern Virginia again struck first in the opening frame by taking a 1-0 lead on a wild pitch. Averett answered with Newcomb's RBI single in the first to tie it, 1-1, and the Cougars took a 2-1 lead in the second thanks to senior Hannah Jones' RBI single to center.

Southern Virginia battled back with four runs in the third inning to surge in front 5-2, then exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning. Between the two big innings, only six of the 11 runs were earned.
The Cougars made a push in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Kaci Stephenson and Jones each had RBI singles up the middle to get Averett within 12-4, and the Cougars had the bases loaded before Southern Virginia got out of the jam to earn the split.

Newcomb, Rodriguez and Jones each had two hits in Game 2.

Averett hosts No. 17 Randolph-Macon College in ODAC action Saturday.

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