Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director
TUCSON, Az. – The Brevard College Tornados Softball team (5-6) fell in a doubleheader to Baldwin Wallace (5-1) at the Tucson Invitational Games (TIG) Spring Break Tournament in Tucson, Arizona.
The Tornados fell in a tightly contested first game, 3-1, before dropping a 7-1 decision in the second game.
GAME ONE
Micayla McCoy (2-1, 1.24 ERA) earned her second start in as many days, going the distance in the first contest on Wednesday afternoon. McCoy pitched seven innings, surrendering two earned runs and seven hits while striking out four batters.
In what turned out to be a pitcher's dual, Baldwin Wallace's Abby Cosart (3-0) earned the victory. Cosart also pitched a complete game, letting up nine hits and an earned run in seven innings of work, striking out six Tornados.
McCoy was equally productive at the plate as she was in the circle, going a perfect 3-for-3. Olivia Pauldin went 2-for-3, while Emily White drove in the Tornados lone run of the contest on an RBI single. Jocelyn Folkers picked up the lone extra-base hit for Brevard, a triple in the sixth inning.
Baldwin Wallace struck first, bringing around a leadoff double in the top of the first. The Tornados couldn't bring home a one-out single in the bottom of the frame, as the first inning ended in favor of the Yellow Jackets, 1-0.
The Yellow Jackets plated their second run of the game in the next inning, taking advantage of a Tornado fielding error to widen the margin to 2-0.
BC had baserunners in each of the next three innings, however, couldn't capitalize as the game went into the fifth inning with Baldwin Wallace holding a 2-0 lead.
The Tornados plated their first run of the contest thanks to a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. Sara Lallier singled, followed by a McCoy walk to put runners on first and second. This brought White up to bat, who singled to center field to score Lallier, cutting Baldwin Wallace's lead to 2-1.
A key double play in the top half of the sixth inning stalled a Baldwin Wallace threat, as White tagged third base before firing over to Mari Cook for the 5-3 putout.
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Marissa Henson singled. Kat Carrol came in to pinch run for Henson, as the Tornados looked to plate the tying run. Folkers stepped in and tripled to right center field, however, Carrol was thrown out at the plate to halt Brevard's rally.
Baldwin Wallace plated a much-needed insurance run in the top of the seventh, widening its lead to 3-1.
McCoy recorded her third hit of the afternoon with two outs in the final inning, but it was to no avail as Baldwin Wallace took game one, 3-1.
GAME TWO
Savannah Jones (1-1, 2.33 ERA) earned the starting nod in the circle for the back end of the doubleheader against Baldwin Wallace, lasting an inning while surrendering four earned runs on four hits.
The Yellow Jackets countered with Ashley Matousek (1-0), who pitched six innings of one-run, four-hit ball.
Baldwin Wallace found its hitting groove in the second game, plating all of its seven runs in the first three innings. The Yellow Jackets posted 10 hits on three different Tornado pitchers.
Ali Grace Hartman continued her strong start to her collegiate career on Wednesday, pitching 3.1 innings of two-hit ball.
The Yellow Jackets used a big three-run first inning, followed by back-to-back two-run frames to build an early 7-0 advantage. Brevard was held in check through the first five frames before Summer Wilson broke through in the sixth inning, plating Micayla McCoy on an RBI single to bring the game to 7-1.
The Tornados went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh as the Yellow Jackets completed the two-game sweep.
Brevard returns to the diamond for its third day at the TIG Spring Break Tournament tomorrow with a pair of contests. Brevard takes on Waldorf at 11 a.m. ET before squaring off against Dakota Wesleyan at 1 p.m. ET.
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.
-30-