BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College baseball team (6-2) looks to rekindle a former South Atlantic Conference rivalry, when the Tornados face off against the Mars Hill College Lions (7-10) this weekend in a home-and-home format slated for Saturday and Sunday.
The Tornados will play host to the Lions in a Saturday doubleheader at Gil Coan Field in a pair of nine-inning contests scheduled for 12 and 3:30 p.m. Brevard will then head up I-26 for a meeting at Mars Hill on Sunday, with action set for 1 p.m.
Brevard and Mars Hill will face off on the diamond for the first time since the 2018 season, as the formal conference foes have played each other 31 total times in the NCAA era.
Brevard comes into play this weekend riding a six-game win streak, most recently extended by an emphatic doubleheader sweep vs. USA South East Division preseason favorite William Peace. The Tornados mercy-ruled the Pacers, 15-1 in five innings before a come-from-behind victory in game number two, 9-7.
In game number one, senior third baseman Holden Lanier led all batters with four RBI's, as the Tornados scored a season-best 15 runs to win via mercy rule in the front end of the doubleheader. Lanier doubled, while freshmen Clark and Noah Harris each logged triples. JJ Wilkes led all Tornados with three runs, while Clark, Christian Ezzell, Harris, and Wilkes drove in a pair of runs apiece. Lanier drew a pair of walks in addition to his perfect 2-for-2 game at the dish.
Matthew Scavotto (2-1) earned his second win of the season, going the distance with five innings pitched. The junior southpaw from Charlotte allowed just two hits and an unearned run while striking out four Pacers in the outing.
Brevard followed up its game one performance with a thrilling game two victory that included a seven-run sixth inning capped off with a crucial two-RBI triple by Logan Clark and a run scored on a throwing error that propelled the Tornados to their sixth-consecutive triumph of the 2021 campaign.
Clark tallied three RBI's, while Zach Allison and Jason Jucker each logged a pair of hits. Allison and Jack Atkinson each came around to score twice.
Jakob Dennis was credited with the first victory of his Brevard College career, as the senior from Raleigh, North Carolina came in the sixth inning, logging a pair of shutout frames allowing just one base knock.
The pair of victories last Friday at Gil Coan Field gave the Tornados six-consecutive victories, a mark that has only been reached one other time in the NCAA-era – in the 2012 season when the Tornados won 12-straight games – as Brevard's 2021 team has secured the second-longest win streak in the NCAA-era of BC baseball.
Mars Hill comes into play on Saturday with a 7-10 overall record that includes a 7-9 mark in the competitive SAC. The Lions have been led by Austin Treadway who is averaging .333 with 15 RBI’s through 17 games played. Tyler Lala leads MHU with three big flys, while Jordan Lathe has scored a team-best 15 runs. On the mound, Mars Hill has been paced by four double-digit strikeout arms, including AJ Chacon who leads the Lions with three wins on the bump.
Live video will be provided for BC’s home contests free-of-charge on youtube.com/
The Presidents of the USA South Athletic Conference have agreed to adjust the Conference's policy on spectators attending any outdoor sporting event hosted by a USA South institution regardless of opponent.
The amended policy limits spectators to two per participating student-athlete, plus students, faculty and staff of the host institution while abiding with all local and state social distancing and capacity directives. No spectators of visiting teams will be permitted to attend. This adjusted policy went into effect for all events beginning on Friday, February 26th.
For further information on the Brevard College Spring Outdoor Spectator Policy, please click here.
For further information on the Mars Hill University Spring Outdoor Spectator Policy, please click here.
Brevard is next scheduled to return to action on Wednesday, March 24 with a doubleheader against Greensboro College scheduled for 1 and 3:30 p.m.
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter Instagram @BCTornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube and SoundCloud, and follow 'Brevard College Tornado Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from BC events.
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