BREVARD, N.C. - A grand slam by Amber Hong (Graniteville, S.C.) in the bottom of the third inning and a two-run homer by Rhyanna Hadden (Sterling, Ill.) in the sixth, helped the Tornados (2-6) to an 11-8 over Southern Wesleyan (2-12) in game two of Friday afternoon's doubleheader.
Game one finished in a forfeit in the first inning. According to official rules, Brevard suffered a 7-0 loss to the Warriors, even though only one inning was played in the game.
Brevard did not let confusion from game one interrupt focus for game two. After getting down two runs in the top of the first, Brevard answered back as Lauren Parker (Charlotte, N.C.) and Brittan Miller (James Island, S.C.) led things off with a double and a single respectively. Parker would steal home on heads up base running for Brevard's first run of the game. Senior Ashleigh Ivey (Concord, N.C.) would bring in the Tornado's second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to score Miller.
The Warriors got on the board in the top of the first after Sara Sweatt singled to start the game. Sweatt would come around to score and Lizzie Fela would hit a solo homerun to give the Warriors an early 2-0 lead.
Sophomore pitcher Ricki Kuhn (Newton, N.C.) shut Southern Wesleyan down the next two innings, recording all three outs herself in the top of the second with a ground ball and two strikeouts. Kuhn earned her second win of the season in the circle for the blue and white, tossing all seven innings, giving up eight runs on ten hits and striking out three batters.
The Tornados tacked on seven runs in the bottom of the third inning as Brevard batted around the lineup, beginning with back-to-back singles by Montana Daniels (Claremont, N.C.) and Hadden. After back-to-back walks issued to Kuhn and Katlin Burns (Lawndale, N.C.), Amber Hong would deliver the one-out grand slam, allowing four runs to cross the plate. Miller would double to center field later in the inning to bring in two more runners. The junior then scored on a passed ball to make the score 9-2 going into the fourth inning.
Southern Wesleyan answered back in the fourth and sixth innings, adding four runs to cut Brevard's lead to 9-6. Freshman Rhy Hadden would give the Tornados some insurance in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run homerun to centerfield.
The Warriors threatened in the top of the seventh scoring two runs before Lauren Parker ended the game with a double play, catching a line drive and tagging the runner out at second base. Brevard had 10 hits throughout the contest against three different pitchers. Josie Edwards earned the loss, giving up four runs in 2.1 innings pitched. Hunter Hoskins started the game, surrendering two runs in the first inning. Lucy Wolff came on for the final three innings giving up four runs.
The Tornados improve to 2-6 on the season and will have a few days off before traveling to Converse College on March 9, for a doubleheader at 1 and 3 p.m.