BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College Softball team (2-4) dropped both games of a home doubleheader vs. Averett University (3-1) on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Ives-Lemel Family Field.
The Tornados held a 1-0 lead through three innings of game one and trailed 3-2 after five innings of game two, yet ultimately came up short in both contests against a highly regarded Averett club. The Cougars were picked second in the USA South Conference Division coaches poll with two first-place votes.
GAME ONE - AVERETT 5, BREVARD 1
Redshirt freshman Jordan Kielson (2-1) pitched another complete game for the Tornados and took a hard-luck loss after allowing five runs, but just one earned run. Kielson allowed 12 hits but did not allow an extra-base hit in her outing that included five strikeouts and just one walk.
Averett's starting pitcher Taylor Bailey (1-0) hurled a two-hitter allowing one unearned run with three strikeouts and one walk.
After stranding a Cougar bass runner in the top of the first, Brevard was able to take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening frame.
Freshman shortstop Mikayla Morgan drew a walk in BC's first at-bat of the game, then advanced to third following an Averett throwing error. Junior third baseman Emily White then reached base on a fielder's choice and recorded an RBI on a play that scored Morgan.
Kielson and the Tornado defense then stranded two more Cougars in the second and another base runner in the third to protect the 1-0 lead.
Averett scored an unearned run in the fourth to tie the game, then took the lead 2-1 on an RBI-single in the fifth which proved to be the only earned run of the contest.
Three more unearned runs came home in the sixth inning to extend the Averett lead to 5-1.
Bailey then retired the Tornados 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth, then shut out BC again in the seventh to secure the complete-game win.
White and junior second baseman Brittany Franks were the only Tornados to record hits off of Bailey in game one, with sophomore left fielder Jocyln Folkers adding a sacrifice bunt.
Despite the loss, starting pitcher Kielson continued her sensational debut as a Tornado. The native of Canton, North Carolina has allowed just two earned runs in 19 innings pitched for an ERA of 0.74 through three appearances.
GAME TWO - AVERETT 7, BREVARD 2
Freshman Beth Hyatt and junior Mari Cook each registered two-hit performances for BC, however, the Cougars were able to take the doubleheader sweep via two big innings.
After both teams went scoreless through the first two innings, Averett struck first with a three-run output in the top of the third. With one out, the Cougars scored an unearned run on an RBI-single following a throwing error. A 2-RBI double in the next at-bat then increased the AU lead to 3-0.
Brevard answered with two runs in the bottom half of the third. With one out, Hyatt singled to left field followed by a walk by Folkers. With two outs both runners then advanced a base on a failed pick-off attempt error by Averett. Morgan promptly hit a two-RBI single to score both Hyatt and Folkers and cut the deficit to one run.
Sophomore Ali Grace Hartman and Hyatt hit singles to lead off the fifth inning. However, both base runners were stranded on base as the Tornados were unable to tie the game or take the lead.
Averett then emphatically added four runs in the top of the sixth to put the game away. The Cougars hit an RBI triple with another run scored on an error on the play. Later in the inning with two outs, Averett hit three consecutive doubles to add two more runs.
Bailey (2-0) earned her second win of the day for the Cougars, this time by pitching 2.1 innings of relief. Starter Micayla McCoy (0-3) took the loss after allowing seven runs (four earned) on 11 hits.
Next up for Brevard is a trip to the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic to be held March 8-12 in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. At the event, the Tornados will play eight games against eight different opponents.
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-BC-