DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball picked up a doubleheader sweep over Meredith College on Saturday at Cougar Field in its home opener, winning a tight 2-1 extra-inning game before holding on for a 7-6 victory in Game 2.

As part of Military Appreciation Day, Averett held a pregame tribute to honor and recognize the service of local veterans.

In the opener, the Cougars (7-1) battled through a scoreless pitchers' duel early before taking a 1-0 lead over the Avenging Angels (1-3) in the fourth. Meredith tied the game in the sixth, but Averett answered in the bottom of the eighth when junior Mackenzie Newcomb delivered a walk-off RBI single to score junior Carson Bradsher. Senior Hannah Zabik went the distance in the circle, striking out nine to secure the win.

Game 2 saw the Cougars' offense come alive. Averett scored twice in the first inning and added runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth to build a cushion. Newcomb stayed hot at the plate with three hits and two RBIs, while Bradsher also tallied three hits and crossed the plate twice. Junior Kadence Woodlief chipped in two hits and two RBIs. 

Meredith rallied with four runs in the seventh to make things interesting, but Averett held on defensively in the final frame to secure the sweep. 

The Cougars travel to Misenheimer, North Carolina on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Pfeiffer beginning at 2 p.m.