The Methodist softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader to visiting Averett on Thursday afternoon at Don Price Field. The results moved MU's season mark to 5-7 (1-3 USAS) while the Cougars go to 14-0-1 (6-0 USAS).
 
Game 1 - AU 3, MU 1
 
The Cougars jumped on the board in the first inning and never looked back. Jessica long led off the inning, reaching on a Methodist error and was advanced to second on a bunt by Samantha Hall the next play. A double to left center by Taylor Dix scored Long and pushed Hall to third, and two batters later, Hall was driven home by a single through the right side by Emily Dunford.
 
Averett added another tally in the second with an RBI single by Dix to score Long and put the Cougars ahead 3-0.
 
Methodist was able to make it on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kelsey Harrington began the frame reaching first and then advancing to second on an error by Averett's second baseman, only to be moved to third on a passed ball. A double by Lindsay Tippett drove Harrington home to make the score 3-1 in Averett's favor.
 
The Monarchs had a good scoring opportunity in the seventh as Allyson Aycock and Sarah Stapleton each drew a walk and a single by Kirsten Markow loaded the bases but AU's starting pitcher, May Beth Smith, was able to get out of the jam by striking out Harrington to end the game.
 
Markow went 2-for-3 in game one and Tippett went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Harrington added a run scored.
 
Nicole Heinrich (3-2) took the loss, tossing all 7.0 innings and allowing three runs (2 ER) on six hits.
 
Dix finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and Dunford was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
 
Smith pitched all 7.0 innings for the Cougars, and got the win by giving up only one run (0 ER) and three hits, adding seven strikeouts.
 
Game 2 - AU 9, MU 0 (5 INN)
 
Averett got on the board first in game two with an RBI single by Dunford to go ahead 1-0 in the top of the first, and pushed its lead to 2-0 with a lead-off homerun by Jessica Griffin in the top of the second inning.
 
Dunford added another run for AU in the third, laying down a bunt to score Hall and make the score 3-0. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Griffin and Jessye Crews added three more tallies for the Cougars and at the end of the third, Averett led 6-0.
 
The Cougars plated two additional runs in the fourth, this time off an RBI double by Dix and an RBI single by Laura Young, to push their advantage to 8-0. Dix scored the last run of the game in the top of the fifth with a single up the right side to score Olivia Cooper, who pinch ran for Rhyan Scearce.
 
Tippett and Markow each went 1-for-2 in the game, while Alanna Anderson went 1-for-1.
 
Brittany Miller (0-1) took the loss, pitching the first 2.2 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. Jordan Pietrolaj entered as relief, and tossed for 0.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and Christine Bowman finished the last 1.2 innings for the Monarchs, allowing one run and three hits.
 
Dunford finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and one scored run and Dix was 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Griffin added three RBI and Crews added one.
 
Griffin pitched the scoreless game for the Cougars, allowing only three hits in all 5.0 innings with four strikeouts.
 
The Monarchs travel to Demorest, Ga. on Sunday for a doubleheader against Piedmont College. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
 
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