Atlanta, Ga. - Third-ranked DePauw wrapped up its season-opening weekend with a 6-1 loss to Averett and dropped to 1-6 on the season. The Tigers started a game with host Emory earlier in the day, but the game was called due a severe injury to an Emory player in the top of the third.

In the Averett game, the Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the second as Mary Beth Smith led off with a homer to center. That score held until the fifth when Brooke Cassada led off with a single and scored on Jessica Long's triple. After Taylor Dix drew a one-out walk, Andrea Grant singled up the middle, scoring Long. Smith's infield single loaded the bases and Essence Pulliam made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly to right.

DePauw's loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth as Liz Getz led off with a single and stole second. Haleigh Chasteen then walked and Linsey Button followed with a single to right. Smith, in the circle for the Cougars, struck out the next three Tigers to end the threat.

In the seventh, Averett plated two more on Grant's RBI single and a run-scoring double by Smith.

DePauw plated one in the bottom of the seventh as Sarah Beischer singled to third with one out and moved to third on Rachael Honaker's infield hit. Honaker moved to second on the play. Beicher then came home on a wild pitch.

Beischer led the Tigers with two of their six hits, while Smith had four of Averett's nine including three for extra bases. Grant added two hits in the win.

Emma Baldwin started in the circle for DePauw and dropped to 0-3 despite allowing just one hit in three innings. Smith moved to 2-0 for Averett, now 2-1, after striking out eight in seven innings.

DePauw returns to action on Saturday, March 12, with a Noon doubleheader at Franklin.