BREVARD, N.C. – Brevard College (11-15, 3-5 USA South) used a big fifth inning to run rule Southern Virginia (6-16, 1-3 USAS) before a back-and-forth extra-inning loss, splitting a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.
GAME ONE: Brevard 17, Southern Virginia 9 (5 inn.)
Southern Virginia started the scoring with some help on a Brevard throwing error, but Brevard responded immediately to the Knights lone run in the first, taking the lead on an Alyssa Boris two-RBI double to make it 2-1 in the first. Rylee Locklear followed by adding a pair to the Brevard lead on a two-RBI triple, growing the lead to 4-1 after an inning.
The Knights wasted no time finding an answer, as Mattison Christensen mashed a leadoff solo home run to cut the deficit to two. Sophia Badell doubled home two to tie it at four, before Berkeley Whitten launched the Knights' second home run of the frame to push Southern Virginia back in front, 6-4.
Brevard pushed back in the home half of the second, as Regan Winkler ripped an RBI single, scoring one to make it 6-5. Alyssa Boris followed with her third RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at six before Andrea Furr gave the Tornados the lead on an RBI single, making it 7-6 Brevard after two innings.
In the third, Southern Virginia continued the pendulum swing with an Eliza Patterson RBI single to tie it at seven, but Brevard established a multi-run advantage on an Emma Payne RBI double and an Analee Morris RBI single, giving Brevard a 9-7 lead at the end of the third.
Southern Virginia found the equalizer again in the fourth on a pair of solo home runs, but Brevard took control after a scoreless bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth for the two sides.
Addie MacDougall started the scoring with an RBI bunt single, giving the Tornados a 10-9 lead in the fifth. After loading the bases, Rylee Locklear scored one on a hit-by-pitch before Andrea Furr scored three on a bases-clearing triple, giving BC a game-high five-run advantage. Hayden Moody followed by scoring Furr on an RBI single, and Addie MacDougall ended the contest early on her second hit of the inning with a two-RBI double, giving Brevard the 17-9 decision in five innings.
Megan Bint earned the win for Brevard, dealing four innings in relief of Victoria Phagan, earning her third winning decision of the season. Offensively, three Tornados tallied three hits apiece, led by a three-hit, four-RBI effort from Andrea Furr.
Adalynn Burch was dealt the loss for Southern Virginia, allowing five runs on six hits in two innings. Offensively, the Knights were powered by four home runs, but Brevard's big fifth inning was the difference.
GAME TWO: Southern Virginia 11, Brevard 10 (8 inn.)
Southern Virginia got off to another quick start, this time against the Tornados' Elizabeth Auciello. The Knights got on the board with an error before a string of three RBI singles, making it 4-0 Southern Virginia early.
The Knights would add to the lead after a scoreless second from both sides, as Taelor Ware notched her second of five hits, an RBI double, growing the lead to 5-0.
The Tornados cut into the deficit in the third, as Analee Morris punched an RBI triple into the right-center gap, getting the Tornados on the board. Addie MacDougall cut the deficit further to three on an infield RBI single, as the tally sat at 5-2 after three.
Southern Virginia got one back in the fourth, but a Hayden Moody sacrifice fly cut the deficit back to three after the fourth inning.
Brevard shifted the momentum heavily in the fifth, starting with an Alyssa Boris RBI single, making it 6-4. Rylee Locklear ripped a two-RBI double, drawing the Tornados even for the first time in game two, knotting the contest at six apiece. Andrea Furr followed, giving Brevard its first lead of the game with an RBI single up the middle, propelling the Tornados to a 7-6 lead after five innings.
Both teams went scoreless in the sixth, bringing the Knights to the plate down one with three outs to work with. Down to their final out, Southern Virginia took the lead back on three-straight hits including a two-run home run, making it 10-7 heading to the bottom of the seventh.
Despite a seventh inning deficit, the Tornados also had some two-out magic up their sleeves. Emma Payne scored two on an infield single before Analee Morris poked a single up the middle to tie the game at ten apiece. Brevard stranded the winning run in scoring position, sending the game to the eighth inning.
The Knights manufactured the go-ahead run in the eighth on an RBI single, sending the Knights to the bottom half up 11-10. The Tornados got the tying run to third, but the Knights' defense held strong, getting the final out at the plate on a game-ending double play to secure the split.
Elizabeth Auciello was dealt the loss despite a season-high eight innings. She finished the day with 132 pitches, striking out two. Offensively, the Tornados were led by Rylee Locklear, tallying three hits and a pair of RBI in four at-bats.
Abby Southern earned the win in 3.1 innings of relief. Taelor Ware propelled the Knights offensively with a 5-for-5, four RBI afternoon to help the Knights to their first conference win.
Brevard heads on the road on Saturday, April 4th, kicking off a four-game road stretch at Methodist.
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-BC-
