(BURLINGTON, N.C.) -- Averett (19-20) beat Mary Baldwin (8-31) in the USA South tournament opener on Friday, 9-2.  The Cougars advance to play Meredith at 1 p.m. on Friday while the Fighting Squirrels will play the loser of Peace and North Carolina Wesleyan at 3 p.m. on Friday.

Averett struck first in the opening frame on a sacrifice fly by Leah Gibson.  The Cougars added five runs in the third, highlighted by two home runs and an RBI double.  Leah Gibson kicked off the scoring with a two run blast to center.  Brooke Hensley added another home run just two batters later, while Kayla Renn concluded the scoring with an RBI single.

Jonquil Brown took advantage of an Averett throwing error in the fourth to put Mary Baldwin on the board.  Latoya Diggs narrowed the gap to 6-2 in the fifth with a solo home run to center.
The Cougars played small ball in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-2.  Lauren Averitt pushed the first run home on an RBI bunt single to third.  Jenna Rudder followed in the next at-bat with a two run bunt single to second.

Taylor Mahaffey (2-1) finished out the final two innings in the circle to earn the win.  Jessica Hogle (6-15) suffered the loss for Mary Baldwin.