No. 25 Piedmont Powers Past Brevard in USA South Finale

No. 25 Piedmont Powers Past Brevard in USA South Finale

Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director

DEMOREST, Ga. – The Brevard College Tornados Softball team (15-22, 7-9 USAS) fell in both games of a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader to the No. 25 Piedmont Lions (25-6, 13-1 USAS) on the road in Demorest, Georgia.

BC fell 9-0 in game one before a 12-4 decision in favor of Piedmont in the second game.

The doubleheader marked Brevard's last two conference contests of the 2019 season. The Lions were recently placed in the top-25 teams in the country, coming in at #25 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Coaches Poll.

GAME ONE

Micayla McCoy earned the start in the front end of Wednesday's twin bill, lasting three and two-thirds innings. The junior from Sylva, N.C. struck out two Piedmont batters while letting up six runs on six hits.

Piedmont was sparked by an early two-run homer by Mariann Kennison, who after a leadoff walk was issued send a deep fly to center field, plating Piedmont's first two runs of the contest.

The Lions tagged McCoy for one run in the second inning, after a leadoff single made its way around the horn thanks to a stolen base, sacrifice bunt, and an RBI groundout.

The Tornado offense was silent for the early stages of this USA South contest, failing to get a baserunner aboard in the first inning. McCoy reached on a fielding error in the top of the second but was retired with a 1-6-3 double play.

Piedmont's Melissa Eckman cruised through the third and fourth frames, not allowing a single Tornado baserunner over that timeframe.

The Lions used an explosive two-out rally in the home half of the fourth inning to seal their 9-0 run-rule victory. McCoy was chased out of the game after three-straight Piedmont singles. Piedmont then tagged BC's relief core for five more runs by way of a two-RBI single and a three-run homer, Piedmont's second big fly of the contest.

BC's Mari Cook reached base after Piedmont's second error of the game, but that was all the Tornados had going in the top of the fifth inning as Eckman finished off her hitless effort.

GAME TWO

BC and Piedmont played back and forth through the first three innings before the Lions took control, scoring nine runs in the fourth and fifth frames to take game two, 12-4, via run rule. 

The Lions were sparked early, as Hannah Hoban drove a deep fly to right field, her second home run of the afternoon, to put Piedmont up 2-0.

With the bases loaded, Piedmont's Kennison tagged McCoy for a run in the bottom of the second, but no further damage was sustained. 

BC's offense broke through in a big way, scoring four runs in the top of the third inning to take its first lead of the afternoon, 4-3.

Piedmont's Hoban didn't let BC's lead last long, however, as she sparked a five-run fourth inning with an RBI groundout. With two outs in the inning, Piedmont scored four more runs to take control with an 8-4 lead. 

The Tornados failed to score in the top of the fifth, despite loading the bases up with just one out. Piedmont escaped with a fielder's choice and a strikeout as the contest moved to the bottom of the fifth frame. 

That is where game two would come to an end, as the Lions used an RBI single and two-RBI double to take an 11-4 advantage. After two outs were recorded by new pitcher Kaitlynn Farmer, Piedmont's Katlyn Andrin hit a game-clinching RBI double, sealing the doubleheader sweep, 12-4. 

BC concludes the regular season with a single contest on Sunday, April 14 at Montreat College at 1 p.m., followed by its season finale against Piedmont International University at Ives-Lemel Family Field on Tuesday, April 16 at 2 and 4 p.m. 

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.

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