BREVARD, N.C.- After posting a 19 run victory to begin the week, the Brevard College Tornados (9-25, 1-12 SAC) dropped a South Atlantic Conference doubleheader to the Mars Hill Lions (19-17, 7-7 SAC) by the finals of 12-4 and 13-0. Senior Blaine Durham (Westfield, N.C.) and Brayden Morris (Pulaski, Va.) powered the Tornados offense on the afternoon as they each tallied three hits.
Game One:
The Tornados opened up the opening game of the series with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to reclaim the lead at 3-1 after the Lions used a throwing error to get on the board. Senior Brayden Morris tied the game up at one in the first with an RBI single to bring home Schuyler Martire (Pine Brush, N.Y.). RBI singles from senior Tyler Konzen (Orlando, Fla.) and freshman Joseph Nelms (Malabar, Fla.) extended the Tornados lead.
After tacking on a run in the top half of the third inning, the Lions used a single and a three-run home run in the fifth inning to claim the at 7-3.
Brevard responded in the bottom half of the third with a sac bunt from freshman Donny Carsillo (Waxhaw, N.C.) that brought home Parker Hubbard (Salisbury, N.C.) to close the gap for the Tornados.
Mars Hill tacked on four more runs in the top of the sixth inning, benefitting from two singles and a Brevard error.
The Lions added on a lone run in the top of the eighth inning to bring the score to its final score of 12-4.
The Tornados offense was led by Konzen and Martire as they each tallied two hits in the contest. Konzen recorded an RBI in the contest along with Morris and Nelms.
Nelms' RBI single in the first inning extended his hit streak to eight games as he's now hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games.
Senior Kyle Pittman (Monroe, N.C.) was given the nod to start on the mound for the Tornados. Pittman tallied 5 ? innings of work while allowing seven earned runs on seven hits.
Freshmen Kross Robinson (Morganton, N.C.) and Bryce Foster (Brevard, N.C.) posted impressive performances out of the bullpen. Robinson pitched a scoreless and hitless inning of relief, while Foster allowed just one hit and struck out one Lion in an inning of relief.
Game Two:
The Lions jumped out to an early lead with a five-run first inning that featured an RBI-single and a grand slam from Gray McCurry. Mars Hill kept their foot on the gas in the second inning, tacking on three runs to extend their lead to 8-0.
Mars Hill added on two runs in the fifth and seventh innings and a lone run in the sixth to cap off the scoring in the afternoon.
Blaine Durham propelled the eight-hit Tornados offense as he tallied three hits in the contest, reaching on every plate appearance. Morris notched two hits in the contest and three other Tornados tallied a hit on the afternoon.
Although Brevard was defeated in the hits column, the Tornados shined to lead off the inning. Four out of the seven batters to leadoff the inning for the Tornados reach on a hit.
Hunter Merrill led the Mars Hill offensive attack, adding in four hits and two RBIs in the finale of the doubleheader. Gray McCurry assisted Merrill's effort with one hits and five RBIs.
Tyler Konzen started on the mound for the Tornados, giving up seven earned runs on nine hits in five innings of work. Konzen struck out six Lions on the afternoon.
Brevard will look to salvage the series finale tomorrow when they face Mars Hill at 1:00pm.