BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College softball team (7-13, 6-8 USAS) concluded its 2021 season on Sunday afternoon at the BC Softball Field, hosting Huntingdon College (16-16, 11-3) in a USA South Conference doubleheader.
The Hawks of Huntingdon upended the Tornados 10-2 in the first contest before taking the second game, 14-3.
GAME ONE – HUNTINGDON 10, BREVARD 2 (6 INNINGS)
A hot start by Huntingdon offensively gave the Hawks enough cushion to claim an eight-run, 10-2 triumph in the first game of the afternoon.
Emily White went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate that included a two-run home run over the left-field wall to highlight BC's offensive efforts in the first matchup. The senior from Shelby, North Carolina logged both of BC's runs driven in on the two-run big fly while also scoring a run. Taylor Hannah went 2-for-3 with a run scored as Jocelyn Folkers and Ali Grace Hartman also tallied singles for the Tornados.
Micayla McCoy (3-5) hurled six innings for the Tornados, surrendering eight earned runs on 11 hits while striking out a pair of Hawk hitters.
The Hawks managed to load the bases with one out in the top of the first before a bases-clearing RBI-double made the score 3-0 in favor of the visitors. A throwing error on a stolen base attempt plated Huntingdon's fourth run before a fielding error made the contest 5-0. BC logged three hits in the bottom half of the first, but couldn't cash them in, keeping the contest 5-0 in favor of Huntingdon.
Huntingdon was able to add three runs to their ledger in the top of the third on an RBI double, single, and groundout to extend its lead, 8-0. With Hannah on first base with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, White sent a hard-hit ball over the left-field fence to cut Huntingdon's advantage to an 8-2 margin.
Both teams traded scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth innings before Huntingdon reached the run-rule threshold in the top of the sixth, using an RBI groundout and single to extend its lead, 10-2. White singled to lead off the bottom of the inning and Brittany Franks reached on a fielder's choice to get a pair of runners aboard, but the Hawks were able to shut the door on the game one triumph.
GAME TWO – HUNTINGDON 13, BREVARD 4 (5 INNINGS)
Five different Tornados managed hits in the season finale, as Makenzie Rice led the way with a two-RBI double. Kaitlynn Farmer broke open the scoring for the Tornados with an RBI-double to straightaway center field, while McCoy also drove in a run in addition to Katelynn Olive and Franks' hits.
Hartman (2-5) earned the decision for BC, surrendering seven earned runs with a strikeout in 2.1 innings of work. Farmer came on in relief, striking out a pair of Hawks in 2.2 innings with three runs given up.
Huntingdon broke through early with a six-run frame in the top of the first on four hits and two errors. The visitors managed to plate a pair in the second before pushing their lead to a 12-0 margin with four scores in the top of the third inning.
Farmer made her mark on the box score shortly following her entrance to the game, doubling off the wall in center field to bring Folkers around to score. McCoy singled off the third baseman's glove to plate Farmer before a Rice two-RBI double brought the score to a 12-4 margin. Hannah roped a liner to the outfield on the ensuing at-bat, but was called out of the box by the umpire to end the scoring rally for the Tornados.
A Huntingdon RBI single in the top of the fifth gave the Hawks a nine-run advantage, 13-4. Savannah Jones reached on an error and was placed in scoring position on a wild pitch before Olive hit a single to right-center field. Jones hustled around third but was thrown out at the plate to end the contest, giving the Hawks the conference sweep.
The Tornados conclude their 2021 campaign with seven overall wins, including six victories in conference play that place them fifth in the West Division. BC's senior class of Franks, Hartman, McCoy, and White was honored in a special ceremony before the LaGrange doubleheader last weekend.
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-BC-