DANVILLE, Va. – Junior left-handed pitcher Matthew Scavotto and freshman right-handed pitcher Trenten Anderson turned in complete-game efforts to help propel the Brevard College baseball team (2-2) to its first two victories of the 2021 campaign, as the Tornados swept Averett University (0-3) in a doubleheader on Saturday at Owen-Fulton Field in Danville, Virginia.
Brevard struck for a pair of runs in the top of the fifth frame before shutting out Averett in the last three innings to take game one, 2-1. The Tornados then got behind its freshman starter in the second matchup, as Anderson's two-hit shutout in just his second collegiate start, paired with a fourth-inning run, lifted BC over the Cougars, 1-0.
GAME ONE – BREVARD 2, AVERETT 1
Scavotto (1-1) got the ball in the first contest, going the distance allowing just three hits and an earned run while striking out three Cougars in seven innings of work.
Burchett and Jason Jucker logged Brevard's two hits in the first game, while Burchett and JJ Wilkes tallied RBI's. Jucker and Noah Harris both came across to score for BC in the top of the fifth frame to push BC over the edge. Centerfielder Jack Atkinson stole a pair of bases, while Burchett and Harris each drew a pair of walks.
Averett's Zelgin Jackson went 2-of-3 at the plate, while Tyler Nuckols (0-1) was handed the loss after surrendering a pair of earned runs.
The Tornados threatened to score in the top half of the first after an Averett throwing error and a two-out walk put runners on the corners, but a groundout halted the early scoring opportunity.
Atkinson drew a leadoff walk in the top of the third inning and stole second base to put a runner in scoring position for the Tornados with nobody out. After a pair of outs, Atkinson took third base but was stranded on a flyout to keep the contest knotted at 0-0.
Averett's Kyle Wilson connected on a one-out double in the bottom of the fourth, and was brought around to score on a groundout and a wild pitch, breaking the scoreless tie as the Cougars held a 1-0 lead midway through the contest.
Brevard's Harris kickstarted a fifth-inning rally, drawing BC's third leadoff walk of game one. Jucker singled with one out before Allison was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out for BC's offense. Wilkes hit a single through the left sie to bring around Harris, tying the game at 1-1. Following an Averett pitching change, Burchett brought home Brevard's second run on a force out, giving the Tornados their first lead of the contest at 2-1.
Scavotto proceded to shut the Cougar offense down over the final three innings of the first game, allowing just two baserunners for the remainder of the contest as BC secured its first victory of the 2021 season, 2-1.
GAME TWO – BREVARD 1, AVERETT 0
Anderson (1-1) clinched his first collegiate victory in dominant fashion in the second game, striking out nine batters while scattering two hits over the course of seven innings in the complete-game shutout.
Brevard's offense collected seven hits with Allison leading the way, as the sophomore went 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk alongside a stolen base. Atkinson, Burchett, Logan Clark, Christian Ezzell, and Wilkes all logged hits in game two for the Tornados.
Averett's Ryan Traylor was the only Cougar able to get aboard via a hit against Anderson, as he went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of singles.
The Tornados had an early opportunity to scratch across runs in the top of the first, as Brevard had a runners-on-the-corners opportunity that was thwarted by a strikeout.
Averett's first scoring chance came in the bottom of the second, when a walk, single, and fielder's choice left runners at first and third with two outs. Anderson got out of the jam with a flyout to keep the score deadlocked at 0-0.
Brevard broke through in the top of the fourth after a Daiquon Davenport walk and Ezzell single. Clark singled to right field and Davenport scored to give the Tornados the 1-0 advantage.
Averett got a pair of runners aboard with a two-out walk and single, but Anderson got a Cougar looking to end the frame.
Anderson proceeded to dominate down the stretch of the contest, striking out five Cougars while allowing just one baserunner over the final three innings, as the Tornados took game two, 1-0, sweeping the doubleheader.
The Tornados and Cougars face off in the series finale on Sunday at 12 p.m. Live stream and statistics will be available, courtesy of Averett University.
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-BC-