DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball split a nonconference doubleheader with N.C. Wesleyan University on Friday, defeating the Battling Bishops 12-11 in Game 1 and falling 12-7 in Game 2.

The Cougars (12-4) jumped on the scoreboard early with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Junior Carson Bradsher singled to start to start the rally and later scored as Averett capitalized on a throwing error before senior Kailey Gates added an RBI double down the left field line. Sophomore Brianna Brooks followed with an RBI single to give Averett a 4-0 lead after one. 

Averett added three more runs in the second inning to stretch the advantage to 7-0. Senior Hannah Zabik led off with a single and later scored on Bradsher's RBI double. Freshman Kennidy Kirby drove in another run with a single before Gates delivered again, tripling to left field to plate another Cougar run. 

N.C. Wesleyan (9-6-1) responded with three runs in the third and two in the fourth to trim the lead to 7-5, but Averett answered with its biggest inning of the game. In the bottom of the fourth, Kirby ripped an RBI double to score Bradsher before a series of plays allowed junior Kadence Woodlief and Kirby to come home. Freshman Cora Liggon capped the inning with a two-run single up the middle to extend the Cougars' lead 12-5. 

The Battling Bishops mounted a comeback in the sixth inning with four runs, cutting the deficit to 12-9. N.C. Wesleyan added two more runs in the seventh to pull within one. 

However, junior Kaci Stephenson came on in relief and recorded the final outs to earn the save and preserve the 12-11 victory. 

Averett totaled 14 hits in Game 1, led by Bradsher, who went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBIs, while Kirby added two hits and two RBIs. 

In the circle, Zabik earned the win to improve to 5-1 on the season. Stephenson recorded the final outs to pick up her first save of the year. 
In Game 2, N.C. Wesleyan rallied from an early deficit to defeat Averett 12-7.

The Cougars scored three runs in the first inning and added three more in the second to take a 6-2. Junior Mackenzie Newcomb drove in two runs with a double in the second, while Woodlief added an RBI single. 

The Battling Bishops responded with four runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run that tied the game 6-6. N.C. Wesleyan took the lead in the fifth and broke the game open with five runs in the seventh.

Averett finished with 13 hits, led by Newcomb and Kirby, who each recorded three hits. Brooks drove in two runs for the Cougars. 

The Cougars travel to Bridgewater, Virginia on Saturday to open conference play with a doubleheader against Bridgewater College beginning at 1 p.m.