BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College baseball team (4-0) swept its home-opening doubleheader on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Gil Coan Field over the visiting Allegheny College Gators (0-2).
Brevard earned a 5-0 victory in the first contest - which kicked off when the 14th President of Brevard College Dr. Bradley J Andrews threw out the ceremonial first pitch – before the Tornados came back to secure a 3-2 win in game number two, sweeping the pair of seven-inning contests.
Baseball: Dr. Bradley J Andrews, the 14th President of @BrevardCollege, throws out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day for @BCNadoBaseball at Gil Coan Field. #NadoNation #d3baseball pic.twitter.com/zPveh5GxlS
— Brevard College Athletics (@BCTornados) February 13, 2022
The Tornados improved their record to 4-0 on the young season, which is the best start to a season in the program's NCAA-era history since the 2016 season.
GAME ONE – BREVARD 5, ALLEGHENY 0
Senior left-handed pitcher Matthew Scavotto (2-0) turned in his third-career complete game and the first complete game shutout of his Tornado career, throwing seven innings of five-hit ball with five strikeouts to hold the Gators at bay.
Zach Allison and Jason Jucker each enjoyed multi-hit performances, while Jucker totaled three RBI and Allison scored a pair of Tornado runs. Freshman Cale Oehler logged the first double of his collegiate career, an RBI-double that scored fellow freshman Frankie Vasquez.
After both sides went down quietly in the first inning, the Tornados were able to break into the scoring column in the bottom of the second when Vasquez hit a one-out single to third base and was followed by Oehler's double to right field, giving BC the early 1-0 advantage.
Allegheny stroked a one-out single in the top of the third and was threatening further with a two-out single to center field, but quick thinking from Jack Atkinson caught the Gator runner rounding second to end the frame.
Blake Burchett, who drew three walks in the contest, forced a base-on-balls with one out in the bottom of the third before advancing to second on a groundout and stealing third base. Logan Clark drew a walk, but Allegheny was able to force a fly out to end the inning unscathed.
The Gators were able to get another scoring opportunity going, as back-to-back singles put runners on first and second with one out. Scavotto and the Tornado defense forced a 6-4-3 double play to escape the jam.
Brevard was able to break through in a big way in the bottom of the fifth, as Allison kickstarted the rally with a leadoff single. A Burchett walk followed by a failed pickoff attempt error set up Jucker, who delivered with a two-RBI single that gave the hosts a 3-0 lead.
With runners on the corners, another failed pickoff attempt error allowed Jucker to come across and score, making it a 4-0 contest as the game shifted to the later stages.
Scavotto ended the top of the sixth by starting a 1-4-3 double play, as the Tornados were just three outs away from sealing the win. BC added an insurance run in the bottom-half of the frame when Jucker logged his third RBI, scoring Allison to make it a 5-0 affair. Scavotto forced a pair of groundouts before sealing the deal with a swinging strikeout, as BC shut out the Gators in the front end of the doubleheader.
GAME TWO: BREVARD 3, ALLEGHENY 2
Nathan Sanders (2-0) earned the start in the second contest, going five innings allowing a pair of earned runs while striking out seven batters. Sophomore left-hander Cesar Rodriguez earned the first save of his collegiate career with a perfect two innings of relief, striking out a batter.
Allison totaled Brevard's lone extra-base hit with a double as part of a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Burchett and Jack Atkinson scored runs, while Clark and Jucker logged RBIs.
Allison made it to third base with one out in the first inning, but the Gators were able to get out of the jam by forcing a strikeout and groundout.
Allegheny put together a two-out rally in the top of the second inning, with an RBI double and single to take an early 2-0 lead.
Atkinson drew a leadoff walk in a pivotal bottom of the third inning for the Tornados before Allison drilled an RBI double to cut the deficit in half. Burchett singled and stole second base, setting up Jucker for an RBI groundout to tie the game. Clark hit a sacrifice fly that scored Burchett, as the Tornados took a 3-2 lead.
Sanders was able to shut down the Tornados over his last two innings, setting the stage for Rodriguez to come in relief. The sophomore from Hialeah, Florida turned in two frames of hitless work with a strikeout, clinching the doubleheader sweep for the Tornados.
Brevard will close out its three-game series against Allegheny on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Gil Coan Field.
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter/Instagram @BCTornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube and SoundCloud, and follow 'Brevard College Tornado Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from BC events.
-BC-
