Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director
Photo Credit: Thom Kennedy '21 Instagram - @thomkphoto
BREVARD, N.C. - The visiting Covenant Scots (14-19, 7-13 USAS) took two games from the Brevard College Tornados Baseball team (7-25, 2-21 USAS) on Monday afternoon at Gil Coan Field to secure the series victory over the hosts.
The Scots used power and a big five-run fifth inning to take game one, 8-2, before using a monumental nine-run inning to coast to a 19-9 victory in the second game.
The afternoon marked Senior Day for the Brevard College Tornados, who honored Senior RHP Michael Merryman. Merryman made the start in game two, recording a strikeout in one inning of action.
GAME ONE
Sophomore RHP Ben Melton took the hill for the Tornados in the first of the day's two contests, pitching four and two-thirds innings. Melton let up seven runs, but only two were charged as earned runs. He struck out four Scots in the contest.
BC's nine-hit performance was highlighted by a 2-for-3 outing from Johnny Flynn, a 2-for-4 day from Ryan Roon, and a 2-for-4 game from Brae Wooten, who also racked up a double.
Covenant starter Jackson Heuer lasted eight innings of two-run ball, striking out four Tornados in the process. The Scots stole five bases total in game one and were sparked by a fifth-inning grand slam homer from Brooks DuBose and a pinch-hit big fly from Lewis Saunders.
Covenant struck early in the top of the first, as Alex Gonzalez roped a two-RBI single to left-center field.
Neither side scored again through the fourth inning despite scoring opportunities. The Tornados had back-to-back singles in the bottom of the second inning, but two-straight putouts ended the threat.
The Scots turned on the afterburners in the top of the fifth, as they used a walk, hit-by-pitch, and a fielding error to load the bases up. Melton hit the next batter to extend the Scots' lead, 3-0 before DuBose stepped in and launched the grand slam over the left-center field fence. Covenant held a commanding advantage, 7-0, through five frames.
Brevard posted a two-run sixth inning after a two-RBI single by Donny Carsillo, but its offense would stall there.
Covenant added an insurance run in the seventh inning when Lewis Saunders launched the second home run of the afternoon, growing the Scots' margin to 8-2.
The Tornados stranded five runners over the game's final three innings, ending their chances at a comeback.
GAME TWO
BC's lone senior Merryman earned his final career start donning the blue and white for the Tornados, lasting through the first inning. Merryman tallied a strikeout against the game's first batter.
The contest proved a wild affair between the 'Nados and Scots, as the team's combined for 28 runs, 31 hits, and nine errors.
The Scots struck quickly for three runs in the first frame. Brevard's JJ Wilkes answered back with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Covenant used an RBI single and sacrifice fly to extend its margin, 5-1. The Tornados were once again able to answer back, this time with a three-run second inning. BC struck for three runs on three hits, coupled with two Covenant errors to bring the margin to within one run at 5-4.
However, the Scots' offense answered the call, posting three runs in the top of the third to grow their lead back up to 8-4.
The Tornados trimmed Covenant's margin to two runs, once again taking advantage of Covenant fielding miscues to plate two scores, making the game an 8-6 contest.
After the Tornados shut down the Scots for the first half-inning offensively in the top of the fourth, BC equalized the contest, utilizing two Covenant errors. The Scots committed two errors in each of the second, third, and fourth frames.
Both sides went down quietly in the fifth inning before the fateful sixth inning arrived. Covenant exploded, scoring nine runs on seven hits and three Tornado errors to extend its lead to a commanding 17-8 advantage.
The Tornados managed a lone run in the bottom half of the sixth, but it proved all the damage that they could do. The Scots padded their victory with two eighth-inning runs, coasting to the victory, 19-9.
Wilkes enjoyed a perfect 4-for-4 game two at the plate. The sophomore scored two runs and drove in two RBIs while hitting a double.
The 2019 BC Baseball team closes out its season with four road contests. First, the Tornados head to Emory, Virginia for a rematch with the Emory & Henry Wasps on April 16 at 3 p.m. Brevard closes out its 2019 season with a three-game road series at Johnson University Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee.
To follow along with all the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, please follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados'' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, or like Brevard College Athletics on Facebook.
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