BREVARD, N.C. - In its final home contest of the 2022 season, the Brevard College baseball team (21-15) blanked visiting Bob Jones University (7-29), 5-0 behind a stellar outing from freshman right-handed pitcher Jacob Thompson on Thursday evening at Gil Coan Field.
Thompson, a first-year Tornado from Gray, Georgia, pitched a complete-game shutout in his first collegiate start to earn the first win of his young career. The right-hander went a full nine innings without allowing a run or an extra-base hit and struck out three batters.
Logan Clark had a multi-hit performance to lead Brevard's offense, logging a pair of hits - including his NCAA-era record ninth-career triple - with two runs scored and an RBI. Blake Burchett scored two runs and stole his NCAA DIII-leading 36th stolen base, while Frankie Vasquez logged a two-RBI single. Cale Oehler drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, Zach Allison registered an RBI single, and Tristan Robinson scored a run and stole a base.
Bob Jones was led by a three-hit performance from Daniel Wood, while Daniel Barcena went 2-for-4 at the dish. Jerry Dunwoody (0-5) went six and one-third innings allowing all five Brevard runs.
Brevard got things going in the bottom of the first inning, as a walk, single, double steal, and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Vasquez, who dropped a two-RBI single into left field to give the hosts the early 2-0 lead.
BJU loaded the bases up in the top of the second, but Thompson was able to force a fly out to escape the jam. Robinson drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the fourth and was advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Luke Morton. The junior catcher was able to steal third base before Allison poked an RBI single through the left side of the infield, extending Brevard's lead to a 3-0 margin.
Both sides went down 1-2-3 in the fifth inning and both teams stranded a lone baserunner in the sixth frame. Bob Jones used three singles to once again load the bases up in the top of the seventh, but Thompson and the Tornado defense once again escaped the threat with a fly out to left field, keeping the Bruins scoreless.
BC added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh when Burchett reached on an infield single and advanced all the way to third on an errant throw from the BJU third baseman. Clark promptly shot an RBI triple down the right-field line that allowed Burchett to score with ease before Oehler's sacrifice fly made it a 5-0 ballgame with two innings remaining.
A one-out HBP was quickly erased in the top of the eighth when Vasquez kick started a 5-4-3 double play to keep the shutout intact. Both of BJU's double plays were of the 5-4-3 variety in the game.
Bob Jones attempted one last scoring rally, getting a runner on first and second with one out following a leadoff single and a hit batter. However, a flyout and an infield pop out wrapped up BC's 21st win of the season, as the Tornados clinched the home-and-home sweep of Bob Jones, 5-0.
Brevard closes action at home with a 13-7 record within the friendly confines of Gil Coan Field, marking the program's most home victories in a single season since 2012, and the second-most in the NCAA era.
The Tornados are on their bye week of USA South Conference action this weekend, and will be awaiting its postseason fate with the results of this weekend's contests. Stay tuned to bctornados.com and @BCTornados on social media for any future schedule updates and changes.
USA SOUTH CONFERENCE WEST DIVISION STANDINGS (As of 4/28)
LaGrange 13-2 (15 GP)
Huntingdon 11-3 (14 GP)
Brevard 8-9 (17 GP)
Maryville 7-8 (15 GP)
Covenant 7-8 (15 GP)
Piedmont 6-9 (15 GP)
Berea 1-14 (15 GP)
USA SOUTH WEEK 6 MATCHUPS
LaGrange at Huntingdon (Montgomery, Ala.)
Friday, April 29, 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, April 30, 3 p.m. ET
Sunday, May 1, 2 p.m. ET
Piedmont at Maryville (Maryville, Tenn.)
Friday, April 29, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 30, 3 p.m.
Sunday, May 1, 2 p.m.
Covenant at Berea (Berea, Ky.)
Friday, April 29, 3 and 6 p.m. (DH)
Saturday, April 30, 1 p.m.
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-