BREVARD, N.C. - Sophomore right-handed pitcher Nathan Sanders struck out a career-high 11 batters as the Brevard College baseball team (9-10, 3-2 USAS) split a USA South Conference doubleheader against Piedmont College (18-11, 5-3 USAS) on Monday afternoon at Gil Coan Field.
Sanders, a native of Franklin, North Carolina, set down 11 Piedmont batters in six impressive innings of work, allowing just one hit while not surrendering an earned run, as the Tornados prevailed with the 4-2 victory.
GAME ONE - BREVARD 4, PIEDMONT 2
Sanders (2-1) got the game one start for the Tornados, tossing six innings of one-hit ball with a career-best 11 strikeouts against a formidable Lion offense, allowing just a pair of runs with none earned.
Sophomore outfielder Zach Allison enjoyed a 2-for-3 day at the plate with a pair of doubles and two RBI's with one run scored. Peter Fumero added a 1-for-2 performance, also driving in a pair of runs while junior outfielder Jack Atkinson had a 2-for-2 day at the plate with a pair of runs scored. Junior infielder Zach Wolfe also added a pair of hits with a double in game one while Macean Metcalf racked up his first collegiate hit.
Sanders held the Piedmont offense in check for the majority of his outing, out-dueling Sam Carpenter (7-2) who went six innings with three earned runs allowed. Huntley Hacker made his first collegiate start in the field for the Tornados, patrolling first base while also nailing down the save attempt on the mound with a hitless seventh inning of work.
After Sanders struck out the side in the top of the first, BC's offense stuck quickly, as Jason Jucker reached on an error to leadoff the bottom half of the frame. BC accumulated three-consecutive base hits, as an Allison RBI-double and a two-RBI single from Fumero gave Brevard an early 3-0 lead.
Sanders proceeded to strike out the side in order in the top of the second to keep the Lion offense at bay. After a pair of K's to begin the top of the third inning, Piedmont was able to plate a pair of runs with a pair of Tornado errors before a pop-up ended the half-inning, as BC clung to a 3-2 advantage.
The Tornados answered right back, as an Atkinson single and stolen base turned into a run when Allison doubled down the right-field line to extend the Brevard lead to a 4-2 margin through three innings.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Piedmont threatened with a runner 90 feet away in the top of the fifth before a Sanders strikeout ended the threat. The Tornados managed to put runners on second and third in the bottom of the fifth before a flyout ended the scoring opportunity, keeping the contest at a 4-2 affair in favor of Brevard.
BC managed to place runners on second and third base with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but a pair of solid defensive plays from Piedmont's third baseman thwarted the scoring opportunity.
Hacker was brought on for the save opportunity with a two-run cushion to work with. The senior right-handed pitcher from Lexington, Kentucky shut down Piedmont in the top of the seventh to clinch the conference victory for the Tornados, 4-2.
GAME TWO – PIEDMONT 9, BREVARD 2
Fumero led the way for the Tornado offense in the second game of the doubleheader, accumulating a 2-for-3 performance with an RBI. Atkinson added an RBI on a sacrifice fly, while Christian Ezzell, Jucker, and Metcalf also logged base hits. Hacker and Jake Moore collected their first collegiate hits in the contest as well.
Trent Anderson (2-3) got the start on the mound for the Tornados, allowing eight hits and five runs in three innings of work with three strikeouts. Five pitchers saw action for the Tornados in game two, including Noah Clay who racked up his first collegiate appearance.
Carter Ballstadt, Jack Bartlewski, and Zach Norman each racked up two-RBI performances in the victory for the Lions, while Peyton Irvin (7-2) earned the win with six innings of six-hit, one earned-run ball.
Following a pair of scoreless innings for both sides, Piedmont racked up five runs on four-consecutive RBI doubles, as Piedmont took a 5-0 advantage.
Brevard answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third when Atkinson brought home a run on a sacrifice fly that was followed by a Fumero RBI-single, trimming the deficit to a three-run, 5-2 margin.
The Lions would proceed to score four runs total over the next three innings of play, scattering two hits and three Tornado baserunners over the last four innings of action to claim the doubleheader split with a 9-2 conference win.
The Tornados are scheduled to return to action this upcoming weekend when the Tornados travel to LaGrange, Georgia to face LaGrange College. The series is currently slated to begin on Saturday, April 24 at 7 p.m. and conclude with a doubleheader on Sunday, April 25 at 12 and 3 p.m.
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-BC-