Tornados Use 15 Hits, Stellar Relief Pitching to Down Wasps, 9-5

Tornados Use 15 Hits, Stellar Relief Pitching to Down Wasps, 9-5

Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director

Photo Credit: Thom Kennedy '21 Instagram @thomkphoto

EMORY, Va. – The Brevard College Tornados Baseball team (8-23) secured a season-sweep over the Emory & Henry Wasps (4-27) with a 9-5 victory on Tuesday afternoon at Porterfield-DeVault Field in Emory, Virginia.

Coming off of a lengthy three-game USA South series against the Covenant Scots, BC utilized an array of pitchers on Tuesday to secure the victory. Everyday first baseman JJ Wilkes made his first appearance of 2019 on the mound to start Tuesday's contest. Wilkes got through the first inning, letting up two hits and three runs in the frame. Wilkes logged two relief appearances in the 2018 season, but Tuesday marked his first collegiate start.

Jakob Dennis followed Wilkes up, as Dennis put together a solid three innings of work. The sophomore pitched three innings of three-hit, one-run ball, striking out three Wasps in the process.

Three-time USA South Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week Matthew Scavotto (2-5) became the pitcher of record, as the freshman from Charlotte, N.C. pitched two shutout innings, striking out two Emory & Henry batters.

The trio of Ryan Terte, Alex Winchester, and Zach Wolfe pitched the final three innings, locking up the 9-5 victory for the Tornados. Winchester allowed a lone run, while Terte and Wolfe enjoyed shutout frames.

BC's offense was a catalyst to its victory on Tuesday afternoon. Brevard scored nine runs on 15 hits, and eight different Tornado batters recorded hits.

Six Tornado batters enjoyed multi-hit performances on the afternoon. Ryan Roon led all hitters with a 3-for-5 output, scoring a run while driving in two RBIs. Roon also tallied a double in his performance.

Sophomore Brae Wooten launched his first career home run in the top of the first inning. Wooten finished the contest 2-for-3, scoring a game-high four runs while driving in one RBI on his solo homer. Wooten also collected a double.

Jason Jucker went 2-for-5 with a run scored, while fellow infielders Holden Lanier and Jacob Bass posted two-hit performances.

Alongside his work on the mound, Wilkes shifted to the DH spot to go 2-for-4, scoring a run while driving in two RBIs in the process.

BC's offense was sparked with a huge two-out rally in the top of the first inning, beginning with Wooten's solo shot. Roon doubled to left-center field to bring Wilkes around to score, followed by another RBI double by Lanier. Bass hit a single to the shortstop that proved vital, as Lanier advanced to third base and then scored on a throwing error to extend Brevard's lead, 4-0.

The Wasps answered back in the bottom of the first with a two-RBI double and a score on a wild pitch, cutting BC's lead to 4-3.

The Wasps stung the Tornados in the bottom of the third inning, as a runner crossed the plate on a failed pickoff attempt throwing error, knotting things up at 4-4.

Brevard broke through in the fifth inning when Wilkes singled to left field, bringing Wooten around to score to give the Tornados the go-ahead lead, 5-4.

The Tornados tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh inning, followed by two more in the top of the ninth to grow their margin, 9-4.

Emory & Henry had a last-ditched effort to climb back into the ballgame in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring its fifth run of the afternoon on an RBI fielder's choice, however, a critical 4-6-3 ground ball double play was turned by the Tornado defense, sealing Brevard's eighth win of the season, 9-5.

With the victory, the Tornados completed a two-game season sweep over the Wasps of Emory & Henry. The Tornados swatted the Wasps back on Wednesday, March 6 at Gil Coan Field, by a final score of 3-2.

Under the direction of Head Coach Sean Walsh and Assistant Coach Kevin Allingham, the 2019 BC Tornado baseball team has surpassed its win total from a season ago. Brevard will close out its season with a three-game road series in Knoxville, Tennessee against Johnson University Tennessee. The Tornados and Royals kick off their series on Friday, April 26 at 5 p.m., with the series closing out with a Saturday, April 27 doubleheader at 1 and 4 p.m.

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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