MARS HILL, N.C. – A six-run eighth inning proved the decider as the Brevard College baseball team (6-5) fell, 11-7, to Mars Hill University (10-10) in the series finale on Sunday afternoon in Mars Hill, North Carolina.
Freshman outfielder Logan Clark led all hitters with a four-hit performance, going 4-for-5 with an RBI-triple, two RBI's, and a run scored. Clark now has four triples hit through his first 11 collegiate games.
Zach Allison and Jason Jucker also enjoyed multi-hit performances for the Tornados, with Jucker tallying a 3-for-6 day at the dish while Allison posted a 2-for-5 performance. Senior outfielder Beau Shealy came across to score twice for the Tornados in the series finale.
Mars Hill put up three extra-base hits, including a crucial eighth-inning grand slam from Kyle Jenkins. Jenkins launched his second homer of the series with the bases loaded, as the Lion slugger blasted the ball over the centerfield wall. Kameron Reynolds enjoyed a 4-for-4 outing with a pair of runs scored, while Trevor Bailey and Hunter Holland also posted multi-hit days.
Senior Ben Melton got the start for the Tornados, lasting 4.1 innings with seven hits and four earned runs in the no-decision. Nathan Sanders (1-1) was the pitcher of record, as the sophomore righty fanned down six Lions while surrendering four hits and six runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
BC was able to strike first, as senior infielder Holden Lanier delivered an RBI on a groundout to give the guests the early 1-0 advantage. Mars Hill struck for three runs in the bottom of the first to give itself a 3-1 cushion through the first frame.
Jucker tallied an RBI on a fielder's choice followed by Clark's RBI-single, as the Tornados tied things up at 3-3. The Lions were able to force a groundout to evade further damage.
After a scoreless third inning for both sides, Clark helped BC regain its lead, as the first-year outfielder smacked a triple to right field, scoring Jucker. A bases-loaded strikeout ended any further scoring opportunity for the Tornados in the top of the fourth.
Mars Hill used a sacrifice fly to score the tying run in the bottom of the fourth before taking a 5-4 advantage after a wild pitch in the home half of the fifth. A costly error by the Lions in the top of the seventh allowed Shealy to score, tying things back up at 5-5.
Clark once again made his impact on the scorebook, singling with one out in the top of the eighth and advancing on a groundout and a wild pitch. The St. Petersburg, Florida native crossed the dish on another wild pitch, giving Brevard a 6-5 advantage late in the ball game.
Back-to-back hit batters and a sacrifice bunt gave Lions new life, putting runners on second and third with just one out. A pair of RBI-singles sandwiching a strikeout pushed Mars Hill to a 7-6 advantage with two outs before a walk brought Jenkins up to the plate. The Lion slugger powered a grand slam to break the contest open, giving the hosts a five-run margin, 11-6.
The Tornados continued fighting, scratching across a run in the top of the ninth as Allison singled home Shealy. Brevard's potential late-game rally would halt there, as the Lions clinched the series sweep, 11-7.
Brevard is scheduled to face Greensboro College on Wednesday, March 24 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at Gil Coan Field in a doubleheader.
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-BC-