BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College baseball team (6-4) dropped a pair of non-conference contests in a doubleheader vs. NCAA Division II foe Mars Hill University on Saturday at Gil Coan Field. The Tornados fell 12-2 in game one of the twin bill, followed by an 8-4 defeat in the second game.
GAME ONE - MARS HILL 12, BREVARD 2 (7 INNINGS)
In game one of the doubleheader, the visiting Lions began the scoring with two runs in the second followed by runs in both the third and fourth frames. The run in the fourth inning came on the game's only home run, a solo shot by MHU left fielder Hunter Holland. After a scoreless fifth inning, Mars Hill then added two more runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-0 lead.
The bottom of the sixth then proved to be the only run-scoring production in the contest for BC. Centerfielder Jack Atkinson led off with a hit-by-pitch, then advanced to third on back-to-back walks by right fielder Zach Allison and shortstop Jason Jucker. Senior first baseman JJ Wilkes then hit a fly ball to right field to score Atkinson with the sacrifice fly. Allison advanced to third on the play, then scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 6-2.
Mars Hill, however, unleashed six runs in the top of the seventh which led to the run-rule victory after the Tornados were unable to score a run in the bottom half of the inning.
Junior Matthew Scavatto (2-2) started the game for the Tornados and went six innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out six. Freshman Ethan Coleman pitched 1/3 inning of relief in his collegiate debut, allowing no runs on one hit with a strikeout.
GAME TWO – MARS HILL 8, BREVARD 4
Mars Hill once again struck first with an early lead in game two after taking a 4-0 advantage in the top of the second.
The Tornados responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the second beginning with a sacrifice fly by second baseman Noah Harris that scored designated hitter Daiquon Davenport who had led off the inning with a double to centerfield. Following walks by Allison and Jucker once again, Wilkes singled up the middle for two RBIs scoring both baserunners.
The Lions added a run in the third to take a 5-3 lead before the Tornados cut into the deficit again with a run in the sixth on a RBI-single by Allison that scored Atkinson. Mars Hill would shut out BC for the final three innings while adding three insurance runs late en route to the win.
Wilkes led the Tornados offensively with a 3-for-5 day with a double and two RBIs. In total, six different Tornados combined for the team's eight hits in the contest.
Freshman Trenten Anderson (1-2) started for the Tornados and went three innings. Senior Jakob Dennis was superb in relief, pitching four complete shutout innings allowing just one hit and a walk. Freshman Cesar Rodriguez made his collegiate debut, going one inning and allowing one hit along with an unearned run.
Brevard and Mars Hill will face off again on Sunday at 1 p.m. in Mars Hill, N.C. Live Video and Live Stats will be available courtesy of the Lions. For information on the Mars Hill University Spring Outdoor Spectator Policy, please click here.
Following Sunday's matchup at Mars Hill, 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.
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