BREVARD, N.C. – Junior Ricki Kuhn lifted a two-out walk-off double into left field that helped the Brevard softball team earn a 6-5 win in the bottom of the eighth inning against Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon at Ives-Lemel Field. The extra inning victory by the Tornados (8-14) avenged a 2-1 setback suffered at the hands of the Wolves earlier in the afternoon.
Deadlocked at five-all entering the home half of the eighth, Olivia Presley reached first after being hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Teegan Bullock moved Presley into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Emily White followed in the lineup and kept the inning alive with a single to left, putting runners at the corner for Kuhn. Kuhn delivered in the clutch for the Tornados, taking a 2-2 pitch into deep left field, plating Presley from third for the game-winning run.
Kuhn was one of four Brevard players with multiple hits in the game, both resulting in doubles, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kuhn was also responsible for the win, tossing six innings where she allowed five hits, five runs, two earned runs and converted four strikeouts.
Jordan Hawk led the way with a 4-for-4 performance, scoring two runs along the way. Leadoff hitter Sara Lalier (3-5, run) also enjoyed a solid outing at the plate, while Paige Atkison finished 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Wesleyan (10-24) built a 2-0 lead in the first inning as a result of two errors, a score that would remain in place until the third inning. It was there that Brevard capitalized on a two-base fielding error in left, allowing Lalier to move into scoring position. Bullock laid down the bunt, putting her teammate at third, before a grounder to short by White scored the first Tornado run of the game.
Brevard's offense managed to tie the game in the fourth after a leadoff triple to right field by Jordan Hawk. Two batters later, Brittan Miller came through with her first RBI of the game on grounder to short, tying the game at 2-2.
Wesleyan went back in front with a three-run fifth, but the Tornados retaliated with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Brevard's rally began with a leadoff walk by White, which was quickly followed by a single through the left side of the infield by Olivia Pauldin.
Hawk loaded the bases with a single to third as the Wolves' defense was unable to make a play in the infield. Atkison punched a single into right field, scoring Pauldin and White in the process, to make for a 5-4 contest. Miller's RBI grounder to short tied the game at five-all.
Brevard kept the Wesleyan bats in check in both the seventh and eighth innings before the dramatic eighth inning walk-off.
GAME 1: WESLEYAN 2, BREVARD 1
Neither team was able to muster a run over the first four innings of the game, but Wesleyan broke through in the fifth when Tiffani Linville drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later, Savanna Boyette lined a single into centerfield, moving Linville to second.
A walk by Hannah Allen loaded the bases for Yasnei Llavore, who responded with a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed Linville to trot home from third.
Brevard tied the game at one in the bottom of the sixth after Olivia Presley led off the inning with a single and a stolen base. Sara Lalier put the tying run at third with a grounder to short and two batters later, Emily White sent a RBI single into left field.
Wesleyan bounced back in the seventh, putting Boyette on base with a single down the left field line. Hannah Allen dropped a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher to put Boyette in scoring position. LLavore responded with a double to left field, scoring Boyette for the go-ahead run as the Wolves grabbed the 2-1 lead.
Brevard put two runners on base in the home half of the seventh, in the form of Teegan Bullock and Olivia Pauldin, but the Tornados were unable to cross the plate.
Eight Brevard hitters had at least one hit, including White, who finished 1-for-3 with the lone Tornado RBI.
Brevard returns to the field at Lees-McRae for a doubleheader with the Bobcats on April 4th. For more information on Tornado softball check out www.bctornados.com.
