BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College baseball team (0-2) opened its long-awaited season up in a non-conference doubleheader against fellow USA South West Division opponent Maryville College (2-3), as the Tornados fell in a pair of contests to the Scots on Sunday afternoon at Gil Coan Field.
BC struck for five ninth-inning runs to stage a late-game comeback attempt in the first contest before falling by a final of 9-5. In the second game of the twin billing, Maryville used a four-run seventh inning to cement their advantage and take the victory, 8-1.
GAME ONE – MARYVILLE 9, BREVARD 5
Junior left-handed pitcher Matthew Scavotto (0-1) received the ball to open the Tornados' 2021 campaign, as the Charlotte, North Carolina product hurled four innings of four-hit ball, giving up a pair of earned runs while adding a strikeout. Zane Beaver and Nathan Sanders each made relief appearances before freshman righty Cameron Cook made his collegiate debut for the Tornados.
Six difference Tornados collected hits in the front end of the doubleheader, with freshman outfielder Logan Clark notching his first collegiate hit and scoring his first collegiate run. Junior catcher Brett Burchett drove in a pair of runs while drawing a pair of walks from Maryville pitching.
The Scots mashed 14 hits in game one, highlighted by a seventh-inning grand slam by Kolton Hicks and a solo shot from Ian Campbell. Eric Hartless went 3-of-4 at the plate, while Will Hubbell and Matthew Turner each had multi-hit games.
Damian Lusby (1-1) threw an impressive seven innings of one-hit ball, striking out six Tornado hitters in the process to earn the victory.
Maryville struck first after back-to-back doubles down the left-field line resulted in a 2-0 advantage for the Scots. The visitors struck again when a two-out rally in the sixth frame resulted in an RBI-single that extended their lead to a 3-0 margin. The Tornados got Wilkes to second base in the bottom half of the inning, but the scoring threat was halted.
After a Maryville pair of singles and a stolen base in the top of the seventh, Hubbell drove a ball down the line for an RBI-double. Following a walk that loaded the bases, Hicks launched a ball over the left-field wall to double the Scot lead to an eight-run advantage. Campbell's leadoff big fly in the top of the eighth extended Maryville's lead to a 9-0 margin.
The Tornados threatened in the bottom half of the inning, placing runners at first and second with two outs before a fly-out ended the frame.
Down 9-0, the Tornados strung together a spirited ninth-inning rally, sparked by singles from Clark and Ezzell and a walk from Holden Lanier. Jack Atkinson hit a sac-fly that got BC in the scoring column, while Jucker made it a 9-2 contest with an RBI single of his own. A throwing error caused the third run of the frame to cross the plate before Burchett's two-RBI single cut the deficit to four runs. The Scots escaped further damage to wrap up the game one victory, 9-5.
GAME TWO – MARYVILLE 8, BREVARD 1 (7 INNINGS)
Freshman right-handed pitcher Trenten Anderson (0-1) took the mound for the first time in his Brevard College career, as the Orange City, Florida native hurled five innings, logging a pair of strikeouts while letting up three earned runs.
Zach Allison, Jucker, and Wilkes all posted multi-hit performances, while Christian Ezzell drove in the Tornados' lone run on a bases-loaded walk.
After three scoreless innings by both sides, the Scots opened the fourth inning up with a pair of runs. Brevard's best chance to do damage came in the bottom of the fourth inning, when three-consecutive singles loaded the bases with nobody out. Maryville was able to escape the jam thanks to three-straight strikeouts, ending the fourth inning with a 2-0 lead.
Hicks hit his second home run of the afternoon, connecting for a solo shot in the sixth inning. A passed ball allowed Maryville's fourth run to come across, giving the Scots a 4-0 advantage after the top half of the sixth inning.
The Tornados once again loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a fielding error. Ezzell's bases-loaded walk brought the game to a 4-1 score, but a fielder's choice ended the inning.
After two quick outs, Maryville had six-straight batters reach, resulting in four runs to break the contest open. The Scots' big seventh inning helped propel them to the win and the doubleheader sweep over the Tornados.
Brevard is scheduled to return to action next weekend, traveling to Danville, Virginia for a three-game non-conference set against cross-divisional opponent Averett University. The Tornados and Cougars face each other on Saturday, February 27 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. before closing the series on Sunday, February 28 at 12 p.m.
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