DANVILLE, Va. -- The Averett softball team took a pair of games from Methodist, 9-1, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon at Cougar Field.
 
With the losses, Methodist now stands 3-7 overall and 1-3 in conference play and Averett moves to 7-8 and 2-0 in USA South action.
 
Down 5-0 in the first game, the Monarchs scored their lone run in the top of the fourth. Alanna Anderson led off with a double to right center and two batters later, Morgan Faircloth single to center to bring her home.
 
Anderson finished 1-for-3 and Faircloth went 1-for-2.
 
Sydney Foland took game one's loss, pitching the first 1.2 innings and allowing five runs on eight hits. Christine Bowman tossed the remaining 4.0 innings and gave up four runs on four hits.
 
In game two, Methodist took the lead, 2-1, in the second inning. Alyson Aycock led off with a single through the left side, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then a single by Heidi Foreman pushed her to third. After a passed ball moved Aycock to second, Emily Hester singled up the middle and scored both runners.
 
The Monarchs tacked on another run in the third and gained a 3-1 advantage. With two outs, Heather Williams reached on a throwing error by Averett's third baseman, and a single up the middle by Aycock scored her.
 
Averett took back the lead in the fourth, breaking through for three runs. Pinch hitter Kristyn Owen came sent a two-out, two-run double to left-center to tie the game at 3-3 and later in the frame, with the bases loaded, Essence Pulliam scored on a wild pitch to put Averett back in front, 4-3.
 
Averett added an insurance run in the sixth inning after Jessica Long hit a triple to right-center and then scored on a bunt by Taylor Dix.
 
Methodist threatened in the seventh inning after getting runners on first and second with one out, but the Cougars ended the game on to a flyout to center field and threw in to second base to get pinch runner Jordan Pietrolaj.
 
Hester went 1-for-3 with two RBI in game two and both Aycock and Foreman finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and Aycock tallied one RBI.
 
Nicole Heinrich (1-4) tossed all 6.0 innings for Methodist and gave up five runs (2 ER) on seven hits with three strikeouts.
 
Mary Beth Smith (6-3) got the win in game two after going 6.1 innings while striking out eight and allowing only one earned run. Jessica Griffin came in for the remaining 0.2 innings to get the final two outs and earn her first save.
 
The Monarchs will travel to Columbus, Ga. to compete in the Lead Off Classic. Their first game will be against St. Thomas on Mar. 11 at 2:30 p.m.
 
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