GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Brevard found its power in a Wednesday doubleheader at Brenau, smacking three home runs on the afternoon to split a pair of games with the Golden Tigers.
All four of the Tornados' (9-15) runs on the afternoon came via the long ball. Ashleigh Ivey put the Tornados on the board first in the second inning of Game One. Her solo shot to right center came on a full count with two outs, delivering the lead to Brevard. It was the first of two hits on the day for Ivey and was the first four-bagger of her career.
Kinsey Parrish led off the fourth with her fourth home run of the season, vaulting her into a tie with Paige Atkison for the team lead and doubling the advantage over Brenau (12-9).
Ivey and Parrish provided all the offense reigning AstroTurf South Atlantic Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week Jamie Hrobak would need. The senior allowed a single to leadoff hitter Lexi Cash on a full count in the first, then promptly retired 15 of the next 16 Golden Tigers she faced. The only Brenau batter to reach during the stretch drew a full-count walk.
Hrobak's dominance continued into the sixth inning, when center fielder Victoria Fontana laid down a bunt single just in front of the plate. It was the first of three hits Brenau would record in the inning, with Fontana coming around to score on an RBI single by left fielder Kelsey Payne, but Hrobak ended the threat with her fourth of five strikeouts and went on to improve her record to 6-8 on the season. She earned the complete-game win in an economical 92 pitches, allowing five hits and the lone run.
Hanna Huckabee's first career home run gave the Tornados both runs in the second contest. Parrish led off the inning to left field and moved to second on a wild pitch. Huckabee dug in with two outs and the teams still locked in a scoreless tie, lifting a 2-1 offering from Brenau starter Jessica Rathje deep to center field.
Brenau's Fontana broke back on the play and reached up to make the catch just in front of the mesh fencing. But her momentum carried her into, and then over, the fence, causing the ball to pop out of her glove for a home run to the deepest part of the park.
The Golden Tigers struck for two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Ricki Kuhn faced the daunting task of pitching out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam with two runs already in. Parrish provided the second out of the inning on a leaping stab of a sizzling line drive off the bat of Fontana, the second, stellar defensive play of the game for the shortstop, then recorded the final out three pitches later on a popup.
Brenau, however, would clinch a series split on a first-pitch, two-run homer from Kelsey Payne an inning later. Rathje earned her team-leading sixth win by allowing three hits in the complete-game effort, striking out seven Tornados without a walk.
Brevard will return to action with a Sunday contest at Fayetteville State. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
To keep up with all the latest information about the Tornados, "Like" our Brevard College Tornado Athletics Facebook page or follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @BCTornados.
