WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Brevard College softball team (3-7) fell in a doubleheader to Carolina University (6-10) on Monday afternoon in the village of Clemmons just outside of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
After falling behind early in game one, the Tornados cut the deficit to one run in the top of the fifth inning, but the Bruins used six unanswered runs to take an 11-4 victory.
Brevard once again battled back from an early deficit in game number two, cutting a four-run advantage to one run in the top of the fifth. However, the Bruins forced five-consecutive outs to clinch the doubleheader sweep.
GAME ONE – CAROLINA UNIV. 11, BREVARD 4
Sophomores Sara Barnes and Valarie Sorrell each recorded two hits apiece for the Tornados, with Barnes driving in a run on an RBI triple while Sorrell scored once. Fellow sophomore Karley Queen added a two-RBI single and KateLynn Olive also drove in a run for the Tornados, while Lauren Mann also got in the hit column.
Grace Reynolds (1-2) got the start for Brevard, lasting three and two-thirds innings with 11 hits and six earned runs allowed, and a strikeout. Lindsey Tolle made an appearance in relief, going two and a third innings with six hits and four earned runs surrendered.
Four Bruin batters reached three-hit performances as Danielle Brooks, Kourtney Cox, Leigha James, and ZyMaijah Thomas all logged three-hit performances. Lyric Ryan led all Bruins with four RBIs while Thomas came around to score three times. Brooks (3-4) pitched a complete game en route to the victory, allowing eight hits and four runs while striking out six Tornado batters.
Following a scoreless first inning, Ryan hit a two-RBI single to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, Jessyca Cardona followed suit, driving in Thomas on a sacrifice fly to extend the advantage, 3-0.
James added to the lead with an RBI single in the bottom of the third, while a Tornado error in the bottom of the fourth allowed the hosts to extend the lead out even further, 5-0.
Brevard put together a spirited offensive rally in the top of the fifth, as Queen hit a two-RBI single to right-center field. Barnes followed up with an RBI triple, and Olive concluded the rally with an infield single.
However, the Bruins were able to answer back with six unanswered runs with four in the fifth inning and a pair in the sixth, as Carolina University wrapped up a seven-run win in game one, 11-4.
GAME TWO - CAROLINA UNIV. 7, BREVARD 6
Senior shortstop Mikayla Morgan surged for a 4-for-5 performance in the backend of the doubleheader with two RBIs and a run scored. Beth Hyatt went 2-for-4 with an RBI while Gabby Hooper and Jasmine Webb each came across to score twice.
Abby Delp (2-4) got the start in the circle for Brevard, lasting four innings allowing 10 hits and five earned runs. Tolle once again made a relief appearance, as the senior pitched in two clean innings of work.
Five Bruins had multiple hits in game number two as the hosts struck for seven runs on 12 hits in the series finale. Kariya Proctor went five and a third with just two earned runs allowed as the Bruins committed three errors in the contest.
The Bruins struck first for three runs in the bottom of the first inning before a Sorrell bases-loaded walk in the top of the third got BC on the board, 3-1.
Carolina University was able to answer back as Cox launched a home run to extend the lead back out, 4-1. The Tornados cut the deficit down to one run, 4-3, after a pair of BC run-scoring singles from Webb and Morgan.
The Bruins struck back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to push their advantage back up to a 7-3 margin.
Brevard was able to take advantage of a two-out error by the Bruins in the top of the fifth frame to score three-consecutive runs and once again draw the deficit down to a one-run margin, 7-6. Brevard put runners on first and second and just one out in the top of the sixth, but a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.
BC had a chance to tie or take the lead in the top of the seventh inning, however, the Bruins nailed the game down with three-straight outs to seal the doubleheader sweep and take 3-of-4 from the Nados on the season.
Brevard opens up USA South Conference play on Saturday at the BC Softball Field as the Tornados take on Meredith College in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
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-BC-