CARY, N.C. – The Brevard College baseball team (0-2) opened its 2020 season at the USA Baseball National Training Complex, falling in a pair of seven-inning contests against William Peace University (2-0) in Cary, North Carolina.
The host Pacers pulled away late to claim a 9-1 decision in the first game before taking game two, 5-1, silencing BC's bats throughout both contests.
Sophomore middle infielder Jason Jucker went 4-for-7 at the plate to highlight BC's offense. Senior infielder Ryan Roon notched a pair of hits and an RBI on the afternoon, while freshman outfielder Cade Stecher recorded his first collegiate extra-base hit in the first game with a double. Beau Shealy and Christian Ezzell each scored runs for BC, while Holden Lanier drew a pair of walks.
The Tornados sent a pair of right-handed veteran hurlers to the mound to start Saturday's contests. Senior Kross Robinson got the nod in the front end of the doubleheader, while junior Ben Melton got the ball to start game number two.
Game One: William Peace 9, Brevard 1
Brevard opened up action in the top of the first inning with back-to-back singles from Ezzell and Jucker. After Roon moved both runners over, JJ Wilkes drove in BC's first run of the season via a groundout, giving the Tornados a 1-0 advantage.
Robinson took the mound for BC in the bottom half of the inning, sitting down the first two batters in order before working around a two-out single to maintain Brevard's lead.
Pacer third baseman Logan Barbour sent a one-out triple to center field that set up William Peace's first run of the afternoon, as Barbour was sent home on a groundout to tie the score at 1-1. Robinson prevented further damage, sending the contest to the third inning deadlocked at one run apiece.
The Tornados were able to threaten in the top half of the third inning as Ezzell and Jucker once again got aboard, however, an inning-ending double play halted the scoring threat.
Stecher picked up his first collegiate hit, a double, however, BC was not able to bring him home. William Peace was able to scratch across two runs in the home half of the fourth frame thanks to an RBI double and RBI single. Robinson finished the fourth inning for the Tornados without any further damage.
The Tornado offense went down 1-2-3 in the ensuing frame, as William Peace added to its lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Pacers were able to put the contest out of reach with a five-run sixth inning off Brevard's bullpen, as the Tornados stranded three baserunners in the top of the seventh inning.
Game Two: William Peace 5, Brevard 1
Both sides went down in order as BC's Melton and William Peace's Austin Skipper pitched 1-2-3 first frames. Lanier drew a second-inning walk for Brevard's first baserunner in the top of the second inning, however, the Pacers sent the contest to the home half of the second inning in a 0-0 tie.
Junior designated hitter Tate Proctor led off the bottom of the second frame for WPU with a triple to left field that the Pacers capitalized on with a sacrifice fly that gave the hosts a 1-0 advantage in game two. Melton limited the damage by getting out of the inning without further issue.
The Tornados loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third inning, but BC's scoring opportunity was thwarted and the runners were left stranded.
For the second-straight inning, the Tornados were able to mount a scoring threat, as Brevard loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning with just one out. However, a fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the chance for BC to get on the board, as the Pacers maintained their slim lead.
William Peace scratched across its second run of the matchup with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning, making the score 2-0 in favor of the Pacers.
Johnny Flynn opened up the sixth inning with a leadoff single and was advanced to second base via a fielder's choice, but back-to-back strikeouts stranded the senior outfielder at second base.
The Pacers went on to plate three runs in the bottom half of the sixth frame, taking advantage of two Tornado defensive miscues, wild pitches, and a pair of hits to extend their lead to 5-0 heading into the contest's final frame.
A Shealy leadoff single sparked a late Tornado rally, as Roon's RBI-single cut WPU's lead to a four-run, 5-1 margin. However, the offensive spark proved too late, as the Pacers wrapped up the doubleheader sweep over the Tornados.
Brevard will look to salvage the third and final game of its season-opening series on Sunday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. Live video and statistics will be available for fans wishing to follow along, courtesy of William Peace.
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