Phil de Montmollin: Sports Information Director
Photo Credit: Tori Brayman '22
BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College Softball team (15-18, 7-5 USAS) dropped both games of a doubleheader vs. USA South Conference foe LaGrange on Saturday afternoon at Ives-Lemel Family Field. LaGrange won the opener of the doubleheader 5-4, then followed with a 12-3 defeat of the Tornados in the second game of twin bill.
GAME ONE
Brevard led 4-0 after four innings before LaGrange came back to score one run in the sixth followed by three runs in the seventh to edge out the victory.
Third baseman Emily White led the Tornados offensively with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate that included an RBI-double and a walk. Centerfielder Lauren Dowell went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a sacrifice bunt.
Starting pitcher Micayla McCoy (9-9) took the loss after allowing five runs over a complete seven innings. LaGrange reliever Peyton Thomas (3-4) earned the victory allowing one unearned run on two hits over five innings.
After LaGrange opened the game with a run in the top of the first, the Tornados answered with a run in the bottom of the frame. Dowell led off for BC with a bunt single down the third base line. Sara Lallier then executed a sacrifice bunt to move Dowell to second. With a runner suddenly in scoring position, White delivered with an RBI double to center that scored Dowell.
Ali Grace Hartman led off the bottom of the second for BC with an infield second. Hartman, who had advanced to third, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jocelyn Folkers to give the Tornados a 2-1 advantage.
Another leadoff single, this time by Lallier, opened the bottom of the third. Following a single by White, Lallier then scored on a throwing error as BC took the lead 3-1.
For the fourth straight inning, the Tornados were able to get their leadoff hitter aboard as Folkers drew a walk in the bottom of the fourth. Dowell advanced Folkers on a sacrifice bunt who was then able to score on a throwing error by the Panthers' catcher.
Brevard's lead remained 4-1 until the top of the sixth when the Panthers scored a run on a two-out single followed by an RBI-double. The Panthers rallied again with two outs in the top of the seventh with three runs taking advantage of two wild pitches and capitalizing on another RBI-double.
White led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, Thomas was able to close out the inning and give the Panthers a 5-4 come-from-behind victory.
GAME TWO
Game two proved to be a one-sided affair with LaGrange recording 12 runs on 13 hits as Brevard used six pitchers in the defeat.
Lallier led the Tornados with a 3-for-4 game with a run scored, while White and Brittany Franks each registered two hits. Folkers hit her third home run of the season, this time coming by the inside-the-park variety.
The Panthers jumped ahead with a six-run second inning. Brevard was able to get on the board in the third as Lallier led off with a double and scored on a Mari Cook RBI-groundout.
The Panthers piled on three more runs to take a 9-1 lead into the middle of the fifth. BC avoided a run-rule defeat as Franks hit an RBI single to score Summer Wilson in the bottom of the fifth.
The bottom of the sixth provided some fireworks as Folkers blasted a line drive deep down the right-field line. Folkers cleared all the bases and beat out a close play at home to register an inside-the-park home run.
LaGrange scored three more runs in the top of the seventh to put away the victory and sweep the doubleheader.
Hartman (2-3) started the game for Brevard, while Savannah Jones, Kaitlynn Farmer, Breanna Allen, Summer Alexander, and Kendall Bracken all saw action in relief.
Winners of seven of their last eight entering Saturday, the Tornados will look to return to their winning ways with a USA South Conference doubleheader vs. Huntingdon on Sunday beginning at 12 p.m. at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
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