BREVARD, N.C.- Senior Brayden Morris (Pulaski, Va.) increased his team-high batting average to .362 on Sunday as the Brevard College Tornados (9-26, 2-13 SAC) fell in the series finale to the Mars Hill Lion (19-17, 8-7 SAC) by the final of 4-1.
Morris powered the Tornados offense as he notched two hits on the afternoon while accounting for the lone RBI for Brevard. Senior Tyler Konzen (Orlando, Fla.) and freshman Donny Carsillo (Waxhaw, N.C.) each added two hits of their own on the afternoon, while four other Tornados tallied hits to contribute to the ten hit afternoon.
Through 35 games on the season, Brevard currently has six Tornados hitting .300 or better with freshman Ryan Roon (Dallas, Ga.) creeping up with an impressive .297 average along with fellow freshman Brian Kahn (Durham, N.C.) hitting .286.
Senior Schuyler Martire (Pine Brush, N.Y.) began the game in dramatic fashion as he took his leadoff at-bat to 20 pitches before ripping a double down the first base line. This was Martire's 43rd hit of the season, placing the Pine Brush, N.Y. native atop the Tornados roster for hits on the season.
Building off the momentum from the leadoff double, the Tornados seized the opportunity as they tacked on the first run of the ballgame in the bottom half of the first.
Following a single from Brian Kahn, Morris took the fastball the other way into right field to drive home Martire and give the Tornados the 1-0 lead.
The Tornados would hold onto their lead until the top of the fourth, when the Lions used lone runs in the fourth and fifth innings as well as the sixth to claim the lead at 3-1.
A lone run in the ninth on a fielder's choice allowed Mars Hill to distance themselves and take the final game of the series 4-1.
Mars Hill's Jared Mathewson improved to 2-0 on the season, delivering four innings of work while allowing one run on seven hits. The trio of Lion relievers combined for five innings of three hit baseball.
Drake Black (Williamston, S.C.) shined in his outing as he completed seven innings of work. The Williamston, S.C. native allowed just two earned runs on six hits while striking out six.
The Tornados will return to the diamond on Tuesday, Apr. 4 at 3:30pm when they host Conference Carolinas member, Southern Wesleyan at Gil Coan Field.
