FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. - Brevard was in prime position to sweep a second consecutive doubleheader, but homestanding Emmanuel broke through in the sixth inning of both contests to win both games and drop the Tornados to 2-4 on the season.
Brevard fell 5-4 in the first game of the afternoon after giving up a single run to the Lions (3-3) on an RBI groundout following a single, a sacrifice bunt, and another single to move the go-ahead run 60 feet away. The Tornados had pulled ahead with three runs in an explosive fifth inning that featured back-to-back home runs by Kinsey Parrish and Paige Atkison on identical 1-2 counts. A Hanna Huckabee RBI single made the advantage 4-2.
But Emmanuel struck back with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth before pushing across the winning run with two outs in the sixth. Lions' hurler Martie Rogers allowed a walk and a single in the seventh, but ended the game by freezing Kinny Davis for a called third strike. Rogers threw 146 pitches in the contest, allowing 11 hits but stranding 12 Tornados on the basepaths.
Emmanuel's Erin Harden followed up Rogers' performance with a complete-game win of her own, striking out nine Tornados without issuing a free pass and allowing just five hits. Her team turned a scoreless game into a 3-0 Lions' lead on four straight base hits followed by an RBI groundout in the sixth inning, giving Harden a significant cushion for the seventh frame.
Atkison attempted to kickstart the Tornados' offense leading off the seventh, smashing a first-pitch home run high over the fence in center field for her second long ball of the day. The Tornados put a runner on with no outs, but a savvy pickoff play by the Emmanuel catcher and a called third strike over the outside corner dashed Brevard's hopes for a comeback, handing the Lions the 3-1 victory.
Ricki Kuhn picked up the loss in both contests despite allowing just three runs on eight hits in 6.1 innings of work. Jamie Hrobak averaged more than a strikeout per inning in two appearances.
Brevard next travels to Young Harris for a Tuesday doubleheader before hosting a twinbill against Converse beginning Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
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