STAUNTON, Va. - The Brevard College softball team (6-11, 2-4 USA South) split a USA South Conference doubleheader with Mary Baldwin (17-11, 3-5 USAS) on Friday in Staunton, Virginia.
The Tornados withstood a late-inning rally by the Fighting Squirrels in game one, as a five-run third propelled BC to victory. MBU answered back in game two, erasing an early deficit with a three-run third en route to a narrow 3-2 victory.
GAME ONE: BREVARD 5, MARY BALDWIN 2
The Tornados threatened early in game one, putting runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the second. Karley Queen then singled to left field, but a play at the plate went MBU's way to keep the contest scoreless.
BC struck for a massive five-run frame in the top of the third. Olivia Martinez drew a one-out walk, followed by a single by Regan Winkler. A throwing error on a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases up, allowing Rylee Locklear to come through with a critical two-RBI double. Elizabeth Auciello, who got the start in the circle for the Tornados, then smacked an RBI single that allowed Alyssa Boris to score. Queen recorded an RBI single of her own before an Analee Morris RBI knock capped off the five-run frame.
Auciello (3-5) continued to shut the Fighting Squirrels down, overcoming baserunners in the third and fifth innings to keep the contest at a five-run margin. MBU was able to load the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an error, walk, and single, but the hosts only mustered one run on a fielder's choice, as the Tornado defense came through with a pair of put outs.
Logan Masinsky came on to work the bottom of the seventh with a one-run lead. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with two outs, and a bases-loaded walk cut the Tornado lead to just three. An infield pop up clinched the conference win for the Tornados, improving Brevard to a 2-3 conference mark.
Winkler notched a team-high three hits, with Auciello and Queen logging two base knocks apiece. Locklear had the lone extra-base hit of the game for Brevard.
Auciello earned her third win of 2025 as a Tornado, allowing five hits and no earned runs with a pair of strikeouts.
GAME TWO: MARY BALDWIN 3, BREVARD 2
MBU flipped the script in game two, fighting back from an early two-run deficit to take a one-run lead in the bottom of the third. The Fighting Squirrels then preserved the edge with four scoreless innings produced by its defense and pitching staff.
Morris led the game off with a double, followed by a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single by Winkler. The Tornados tacked on another in the top of the second when a HBP and three-straight walks brought Addison Smith around to score.
MBU jumped on Brevard in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 3-2 lead.
The Tornados were able to put a runner into scoring position in the tol of the fourth, but the rally was halted by a strikeout. Brevard then went down in order in the fifth, stranded a runner at second base with one out in the sixth, and a pivotal double play in the seventh killed any rally opportunity by Brevard as the hosts took the one-run triumph.
Morris went 2-for-2 with two walks, a double, and a run scored at the leadoff spot in the batting order. Andrea Furr also logged two hits in a 2-for-3 outing, while Locklear hit her second double of the day.
Deana McMinn (1-1) took the ball to start for the Tornados in 2.1 innings of work. Masinsky came on in relief, with 3.2 innings of scoreless action.
Brevard travels to Buena Vista, Virginia on Saturday for a doubleheader against Southern Virginia beginning at 1 p.m.
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-BC-
