Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director
Photo Credit: Thom Kennedy '21 Instagram @thomkphoto
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Five Tornado batters tallied multi-hit performances as the Brevard College Tornados Baseball team (9-25) used a five-run fifth inning to come from behind and defeat the Johnson University Royals (9-25), 12-10, at the Knoxville Municipal Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Freshman Jason Jucker, who was hitting leadoff for BC, racked up three hits, four runs, and an RBI double for an impressive, 3-for-5 day.
Donny Carsillo went a perfect 3-for-3, while Ryan Roon's 3-for-6 performance included a double, a run, and an RBI.
Matthew Kelley and Christian Ezzell each had big two-hit games for Brevard, as Ezzell extended his hitting streak to 11 games.
Kross Robinson, who was recently named Brevard's first USA South All-Conference selection, lasted four innings in a no-decision effort. Robinson allowed four earned runs on four hits, striking out four batters.
After Bryce Bowers turned in a solid two-inning relief effort, Alex Winchester (2-2) came in for three shutout innings, striking out four Royals.
Sophomore JJ Wilkes sparked Brevard's offense early, bringing around Jucker and Carsillo around to score with a two-RBI double, giving the Tornados an early 2-0 advantage in the top of the first.
The Royals were able to strike back in the bottom of the first inning, plating four runs on two infield hits coupled with two Tornado errors to take a 4-2 lead after the first frame.
Johnson tacked on a run in the bottom of the second inning on a fielding error to extend its advantage, 5-2, before adding another run in the bottom of the third for an early four-run advantage.
Brevard sparked a three-run fourth inning offensively to cut into Johnson's lead, 6-5, before the Royals plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth to push their lead back up to an 8-5 margin.
The Tornados stormed for five runs in the top of the fifth inning, as BC used six hits along with a Royals' error to retake the lead, 10-8.
Johnson took advantage of three costly BC errors in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the contest up at 10-10.
Roon plated Jucker with two outs in the top of the seventh for the go-ahead run as Brevard reclaimed the lead, 11-10.
Winchester came on for the Tornados in relief, mowing through the Royals in the bottom of the seventh to hold BC's one-run advantage.
The Royals threatened in the bottom of the eighth inning with a runner on second base, however, Winchester forced a swinging strikeout to escape unscathed.
Jack Atkinson scored a critical insurance run in the top of the ninth, as the freshman center fielder walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a fly out before scoring on a passed ball to give Brevard a two-run cushion, 12-10.
Johnson had two runners on base with two outs, but Winchester forced a fly out to Atkinson in center field, ending game one in favor of the Tornados, 12-10.
Brevard will conclude its 2019 campaign with a doubleheader tomorrow against the Royals. The contests will now begin at 12 p.m. and are scheduled for seven innings each at the Knoxville Municipal Stadium.
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