Joseph Marvin: Assistant Sports Information Director
TUCSON, Az. - The Brevard College Tornados Softball Team (5-4) caught fire in the desert, scoring 23 runs and claiming two victories in two games against fellow NCAA DIII opponent North Central University (Minn.) (0-4) on the first day of action for BC in the Tucson Invitational Games (TIG) Spring Break Tournament in Tucson, Az.
The Tornados held off a second-inning rally by the Rams in the first game to glide to an 11-3 victory in six innings. This performance was followed by a dominant 12-0 triumph in five innings as Brevard cruised to sweep North Central.
Brevard excelled in all three facets of the game in both contests, as its offense, fielding, and pitching all shined through both games.
GAME ONE
Sophomore pitcher Breanna Allen got the starting nod for Head Coach Bob Lowe, working through an inning and a third before giving way to freshman Savannah Jones (1-0, 0.82 ERA). Jones dominated the Rams' hitters, pitching 4.2 innings of no-hit ball, striking out four batters. Jones' work earned her the first collegiate victory of her career.
Brittany Franks, Olivia Presley, and Jocelyn Folkers all enjoyed multi-hit performances to lead the Tornados in game one.
Franks hit 2-for-4 and scored a run while both Presley and Folkers recorded 2-for-3 outings. Presley and Folkers both scored two runs each and drove in three RBI's. Presley drilled two doubles while Folkers added a triple to BC's extra-base hits effort.
Brevard was very active on the basepaths, as the Tornados stole a whopping eight bases against the Rams in game one.
NCU committed five costly errors in game one compared to BC's lone error.
Allen came into the circle for the Tornados, retiring the Rams in order 1-2-3.
Brevard took advantage of defensive blunders on North Central's part in the bottom half of the first, exploding for six runs which included a two-RBI double by Presley followed by a two-RBI triple from Folkers.
NCU threatened in the top of the second, bringing three runners across the plate to cut Brevard's lead in half, 6-3.
The Tornados, however, would not be deterred and continued to apply pressure to the Rams offensively. Brevard pushed an insurance run across in the fourth inning as Lauren Dowell scored on an error. The Tornados followed this with a three-run fifth inning before Mari Cook's RBI single in the sixth enforced the run rule, giving BC a comfortable 11-3 victory.
GAME TWO
Brevard put it all together in the second game of Tuesday's twin bill, exploding with a quick 12 runs to take a 12-0 victory in just five innings.
Alongside its three extra-base hits in the first competition, Brevard hitters tallied a whopping eight extra-base hits in the second game, bringing their daily total to 11 extra base hits. This total includes the impressive tally of six triples in game two.
Every single starter recorded a hit for Brevard as the Tornados posted a season-high 14 hits. Three Tornados achieved multi-hit games, as Sara Lallier, Olivia Pauldin, and White led the way for BC.
Batting leadoff, Lallier went 2-for-4, using her speed to score three times while also driving in two RBI's. Lallier showed her speed with two stolen bases.
White once again was a catalyst for the Brevard offense, batting 3-for-4 while scoring a run. All of White's hits were of the extra base variety, as she connected for a double and two triples.
Pauldin also caught the extra-base hit fever, going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with a double, triple, and a run scored.
Lallier, Wilson, and Marissa Henson each drove in two RBI's as well.
Micayla McCoy (2-0, 0.70 ERA) made her second start as a Tornado, pitching three innings of three-hit, shutout ball while striking out seven Rams. Summer Alexander came on in relief, only allowing a hit in two innings and recording two strikeouts.
Serving as the designated away team in the neutral doubleheader, the Tornados jumped out right away to a quick 3-0 lead. This advantage would extend 7-0 after the third followed by an 11-0 margin in the fourth. After the Tornados posted their 12th run, Alexander retired the Rams in order to end the contest, securing the victory for the Tornados, 12-0.
Brevard now turns its attention to tomorrow's slate as it faces established NCAA DIII institution Baldwin Wallace (3-1) in a doubleheader at 1 & 3:30 p.m. ET. Both games will have live stats available courtesy of Baldwin Wallace Athletic Communications.
To follow along with all the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, please follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados'' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, or like Brevard College Athletics on Facebook.
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