BREVARD, N.C. – The Brevard College softball team (6-13, 0-2 USAS) dropped both games of a doubleheader against Mary Baldwin University (8-9, 3-1 USAS) to open USA South Conference play on a sunny Friday afternoon at the BC Softball Field.
Mary Baldwin won the first game 6-2, then took game two of the twin bill 9-1 in five innings.
GAME ONE: MARY BALDWIN 6, BREVARD 2
The two teams were tied 1-1 after two innings, before Mary Baldwin took the lead with a run in the fourth. The Fighting Squirrels added another run to go up 3-1 in the sixth, then capitalized on three runs in the top of the seventh. Trailing 6-1, Brevard managed one run in the bottom of the seventh before the comeback attempt fell short.
Jadyn Harlow, Rylee Locklear and Olivia Martinez all produced two-hit games to lead Brevard offensively. Martinez, BC's senior catcher, went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Locklear went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base, while Harlow went 2-for-4. Locklear also showed off her glove work at second base with a spectacular defensive play in the fourth inning.
After Mary Baldwin took the 1-0 lead, BC responded in the bottom of the second as Locklear led off with a single. Locklear advanced to second on a ground out, then was opportunistic by scoring on a MBU throwing error.
BC's other run came in the bottom of the seventh as shortstop Gabby Hooper led off with a single, then promptly stole second. Martinez then drove home Hooper with an RBI-single to center.
Junior Abby Delp (4-3) pitched all seven innings for the Tornados, striking out two and allowing no walks. Emily McCreery (4-2) was the winning pitcher, allowing one earned run on nine hits.
GAME TWO: MARY BALDWIN 9, BREVARD 1 (5 INNINGS)
Game two started just like game one with each team scoring a run in the second inning, Mary Baldwin then unleashed an eight-run third inning that proved to be the difference in the run-rule victory for the visitors.
Freshman designated player Summer Crist registered a career-best two hits in a 2-for-2 performance with an RBI. Brevard's remaining hit came from second baseman Rylee Locklear who went 1-for-2 with a run scored.
MBU left fielder Molly Thompson hit a grand slam to propel the Fighting Squirrels offensively. Starting pitcher Reagan Frazier (2-3) earned the win, allowing one run on three hits with no walks.
Junior right-handed pitcher Grace Reynolds started for Brevard and allowed just one earned run in 2.2 innings to take the loss. Freshman Logan Masinsky relieved Reynolds and pitched 2.1 shutout innings allowing just two hits.
Brevard was plagued by defensive miscues, committing five errors with eight of the nine runs allowed unearned.
The Tornados will return to action on Saturday as USA South Conference play continues vs. Southern Virginia. First pitch of the conference doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at the BC Softball Field.
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