BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College softball team (3-3) celebrated opening day on its home turf with a doubleheader sweep over visiting Wesleyan College (0-4) on Saturday afternoon at the BC Softball Field.  Brevard won game one of the twin bill 7-6, then pulled away for an emphatic 12-6 victory in game two.
   
In a back-and-forth affair, Brevard pulled ahead with three runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth, then held off a three-run Wesleyan rally in the seventh to take the victory.
 
Outfielder Karley Queen drew a hit-by-pitch in the first at bat at home this season for the Tornados.  Queen then stole second and advanced to third on a fly ball.  Freshman Regan Winkler promptly drove home Queen with an RBI-double to give the Tornados a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
 
The visiting Wolves responded with two runs in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead.  The contest remained scoreless from the next few frames until a two-run output by BC in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Winkler led off Brevard's fourth with a walk, then was driven home on a two-out, RBI-double by freshman Ryan Locklear.  Junior shortstop Gabby Hooper followed with a single to score Locklear as BC regained the lead 3-2.
 
After Wesleyan tied the game 3-3, BC took advantage of defensive miscues by Wesleyan to tally three runs and take a 6-3 advantage.
 
The Tornados then scored what proved to be a critical insurance run in the sixth inning.   Freshman right fielder Michaela Jones hit an infield single with one out, then stole second.  After advancing to third on a groundout by Queen, Jones then scored the seventh run of the game for BC on an RBI-single by MacKenzie Wilborne.
 
Wesleyan rallied with three runs in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to one run with one out and a runner on base.  However, starting pitcher Grace Reynolds retired the next two Wolves to come to plate on a fly out and a strikeout to seal the win.
 
Reynolds (1-2) earned her first win of 2024 with the complete-game performance, striking out four Wolves in the process.
 
Offensively, seven different Tornados recorded hits.  Wilborne (2-4) and Jones (2-2) each registered multiple hits.  Winkler and Locklear both registered their first doubles as college players.
   
Brevard led most of the second contest and pulled away late with a big sixth inning to take the victory and the doubleheader sweep.
 
Freshman third baseman Jadyn Harlow continued the sensational start to her collegiate career with a 4-for-4 performance with a home run, a double and three RBI.  Senior catcher Olivia Martinez wnet 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Wilborne delivered again with another multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3.  Winkler went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Locklear scored a career-best two runs.
 
Just like game one, Queen was hit by pitch in BC's leadoff at-bat, then stole second.  Harlow hit an RBI-single to score Queen and give the Tornados the opening lead.
 
Harlow then delivered again with her third home run in six games this season with a towering 2-run shot over the left field wall to score Wilborne and give BC a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the second, electrifying the opening-day crowd.
 
In the third, Queen drew a bases-loaded walk to score freshman Peyton Wise.  Moments later, Locklear stole home to give the Tornados a four-run lead and ignite the BC faithful ever further.
 
Wesleyan cut the lead to 7-5 before the Tornados exploded with a five-run, six-hit sixth inning highlighted by RBI doubles by Martinez and sophomore Ive Leighton.
 
Abby Delp (2-0) earned her second win of the season, allowing just two earned runs in seven complete innings.
 
Brevard returns to action on Saturday, March 2 with a trip to Virginia to take on Sweet Briar College in a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m.
 
To follow the latest news and updates surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College Tornados' on SoundCloud, and 'Brevard College Athletics' on Facebook. In addition, follow 'brevardcollege' on Flickr for photos from Brevard College.