BRIDGEWATER, Va. - Bridgewater's late inning rally came up short Thursday afternoon as the Eagles lost to Averett University, 8-6, in non-conference action.

Averett jumped out to a 2-0 lead after one inning, but the Eagles tied the score with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.

Kenner Berry led off the second inning with a single and moved to second on a passed ball. Berry scored on a single by Justin Petock to cut the Averett lead to 2-1. Petock raced home on a double down the left-field line by Ryan Leake, tying the score at 2-2.

The Cougars forged ahead with a four-run outburst in the top of the fifth. With one out, Dallas Smithers singled and Hunter Ashworth walked. Smithers scored on a hit-and-run single by Kyle Vidano for a 3-2 Averett lead. With runners at the corners, Ashworth raced home on a bunt single by Nic Futrell, pushing the margin to 4-2. A double-steal gave the Cougars runners at second and third and both scored when Kyle Walsh's fly ball was dropped when Berry and second baseman Austin Batten collided in shallow right field.

Averett added another run in the sixth to lead 7-2. The Cougars loaded the bases on singles by Noah Greenblatt and Smithers and a walk to Ashworth. Vidano was hit by a pitch, allowing Greenblatt to score.

The Eagles scored four runs over the final three innings, but the comeback effort fell short.

Bridgewater pulled to within 7-4 with two runs in the seventh. Leake led off with his second double of the game and pinch-hitter Brendan Howell followed with a homer to right.

With one out in the eighth, Berry and Petock delivered back-to-back singles, Berry scored on a single by Leake as the Eagles inched to within 7-5.

The Cougars took advantage of two Bridgewater errors in the top of the ninth to score an important insurance run, making the score 8-5.

A single by Cavin Clyde plated a run in the bottom of the ninth for the Eagles and brought the potential tying run to the plate with one out. Averett pitcher Daniel Elliott retired the next two batters on infield grounders to close out the 8-6 victory for the Cougars,

The Eagles finished the game with 13 hits. Leake led the way with three hits and two RBIs while Berry and Petock added two hits each.

The first four hitters in the Averett lineup - Smithers, Ashworth, Vidano and Futrell - had two hits each to pace the Cougars' 11-hit attack.

Errors plagued the Eagles Thursday as seven miscues led to five unearned runs.

Bridgewater, now 16-11, will look to snap a two-game losing streak when the Eagles host Guilford for an important conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The first game begins at noon.