DANVILLE, Va. (3/10/09) -- Three Cougars finished with three hits apiece as Averett jumped on Guilford College early to defeat the Quakers 7-3 on Tuesday afternoon at Owen-Fulton Field.

Guilford (10-5) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single, but Averett (7-10-1) responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning. With Adam Higgins on second and Michael Moore on first, Corey Landis' pitch in the dirt ended up at the backstop and Higgins scored on the play. Moore, who advanced to third, later scored on Eric McGuire's single to put Averett ahead 2-1.

The Cougars extended the lead to 4-1 on RBI singles by Higgins and Eric Sibrizzi in the second inning. Averett added two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles from Moore and Jake Loye.

Averett right-hander Chase Hall improved to 1-0 after allowing only three runs in 8 2-3 innings. Left-hander Michael Mothershead came in to get the final out for the Cougars, who avenged a loss to Guilford earlier this season.

Higgins, Moore and Loye each finished with three hits for the Cougars, who pounded out 13 total hits on the afternoon.

Averett returns to action on Friday at home against Stevenson at 2 p.m. The Cougars' doubleheader scheduled for Wednesday against Penn State Fayette was canceled. Guilford hosts Haverford College Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.