BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College Baseball team (1-8, 0-3 USAS) fell by a final score of 11-5 in its home-opening series finale to Piedmont College (6-3, 3-0 USAS) on Sunday afternoon at Gil Coan Field.
JJ Wilkes led all Tornados with a three-hit performance, as the junior infielder went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Senior Johnny Flynn added two hits, a run, and an RBI, while Daiquon Davenport hit a two-RBI single. Joc Pledger and Beau Shealy each racked up stolen bases in the game.
Piedmont was paced by a perfect day from Tyler Sheley, who went 3-for-3 with two RBI's while Carter Ballstadt and Cameron Jackson each recorded two hits. As a team, Piedmont recorded five stolen bases in the contest.
Senior right-handed pitcher Kross Robinson (0-3) earned the starting nod for the Tornados, allowing five earned runs on six hits while striking out five batters. Sophomore left-handed pitcher Matthew Scavotto came on in relief for Robinson, throwing four innings and allowing just one earned run while tying his career-high with six strikeouts.
Piedmont's Will Janofsky (1-1) earned his first victory of the season by throwing 3.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits while punching out four batters via the strikeout.
The Lions jumped out early in the top of the first frame with five runs on five hits. With runners on second and third base, Robinson stopped the damage by forcing a groundout to send the Tornado offense to the plate.
BC got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Wilkes singled through the left side of the infield, scoring Brandin Johnson to give the Tornados their first run of the ballgame. Brevard looked to add more runs in the frame, but two quick outs ended the second inning of action.
Brevard's Jason Jucker notched a one-out single in the bottom of the third inning, and after a passed ball moved the sophomore into scoring position, Flynn hit an RBI-single to left field, cutting Piedmont's lead to a three-margin, 5-2.
With runners on second and third base and one away in the bottom of the fifth inning, Davenport roped a two-RBI single into right field, cutting Piedmont's advantage to just one run, 5-4. Davenport was advanced to third base on a flyout, but couldn't be brought home.
BC got a baserunner on in the bottom of the sixth frame, and a near-double down the left-field line was called foul off the bat of Donny Carsillo. However, Piedmont ended the inning unscathed, clinging to its one-run lead.
The Lions would strike for a pair of runs in each of the next three innings to wrap up their victory. Pledger scored on a groundout to bring BC back within six runs, but the Lions shut the door to clinch the victory, 11-5.
Brevard will take a quick dip out of USA South Conference play this coming week before a weekend conference road trip. The Tornados return to action on Wednesday, February 26 when BC takes on local WNC-area school Montreat College in Montreat, North Carolina, with first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
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-BC-