MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Brevard College baseball team (4-10) rallied in the eighth inning with three runs, but fell just short as Mississippi University for Women (3-8) held on for an 8-5 triumph on day two of the Firehouse Classic at Neal Posey Field on the campus of Huntingdon College.
 
The Owls drew ahead first in the top-half of the first inning. An infield single, walk, and another single loaded the bases with one out. Colin Weathers (1-2) forced a ground ball, but the throw on a potential double-play was errant, leading to two runners scoring for MUW. BC got a pair of runners on with one out in the frame, however, the Owls were able to turn two and end the threat.
 
Two scoreless innings followed before a solo home run by MUW in the top of the fourth stretched its lead to a 3-0 gap. BC was able to get a runner into scoring position with no outs, but the threat stalled after a pair of flyouts and a strikeout.
 
Brevard finally was able to enter the scoring column in the bottom-half of the fifth. Gavin Grant recorded a leadoff single up the middle, followed by a MUW fielding error that out runners on the corners. Luke Morton drove in Grant with a sacrifice fly, trimming the margin to a 3-1 score.
 
MUW answered immediately back with a two-RBI double in the top of the sixth that pushed its lead to a four-run gap, 5-1. Cale Oehler launched his third home run of the season with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Owl lead back down to three, but an RBI on a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single put MUW up 7-2 with nine outs left to go for BC.
 
Jacob Thompson came in to work the top of the eighth for Brevard, forcing an inning-ending double play after MUW collected a one-out single. BC fought back in the bottom of the eight, leading things off with a double by Tyler Kelson. The freshman attempted to steal third base, but was ruled out on the play. Oehler followed up by drawing a one-out walk before Frankie Vasquez came through with an RBI double, cutting the Owl lead to four, 7-3.
 
Grant kept the eighth-inning rally going with a one-out walk of his own, putting runners at first and second. Nico Bartolotti then pushed a single through the left side of the infield, loading the bases up for Brevard. After a BC flyout, Morton stepped to the dish and delivered a two-RBI single into center that brought Grant and Vasquez in to score, cutting the MUW to two runs, 7-5. The Tornados would strand runners on the corners, however, after an inning-ending strikeout sent the contest to the ninth.
 
MUW tacked on an important insurance run in the top of the ninth with an RBI single. The Owls then sat BC down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning to clinch the three-run win.
 
Grant, Kelson, Morton, and Vasquez all had multiple hits, with Morton leading all Tornados with three RBI. Kelson and Vasquez logged doubles, with Oehler hitting BC's lone long ball of the game.
 
Weathers made the start, lasting 5.1 innings with four earned runs surrendered and three strikeouts. Hatcher Bailey worked 1.2 innings of relief, while Thompson closed the mound duties for BC with two innings of work.
 
The Tornados conclude action at the Firehouse Classic Sunday at 1 p.m. ET vs. Millsaps.

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