DANVILLE, Va. - Sophomore left-handed pitcher Connor Crosby (1-0) earned his first career victory on the mound as the Brevard College baseball team (1-1) opened its 2023 season with a doubleheader split against Averett University (1-1) on Saturday afternoon in Danville, Virginia.
The Tornados' game-one comeback effort came up just short as the Cougars held on for a 3-2 victory in the season opener, but Brevard was able to bounce back in game number two, using a three-run fifth inning and stellar pitching performances from Crosby and Bryce Bowers to close out a 4-2 win, earning the doubleheader split.
GAME ONE - AVERETT 3, BREVARD 2
Junior right-handed pitcher Trenten Anderson (0-1) got the ball to kick off BC's regular season, lasting four innings after allowing four hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts but six walks to his ledger. Cesar Rodriguez came on in relief, hurling four innings off one-hit ball with two strikeouts.
Sophomore infielder Luke Morton led the Tornados in game one with a pair of hits, including his first collegiate double, while scoring both of BC's runs. Lucas Granata tallied his first career double while Blake Burchett and Logan Clark also logged hits. Burchett and Tristan Robinson stole a pair of bases each and Peter Fumero swiped one bag. BC's offense sputtered early in the contest, as the Tornados left a total of 10 men on base in game one.
Caden Grider and Tyler Wilson each tallied RBIs for Averett while David Asbill (1-0) earned the win on the mound after six and 1/3 innings of four-hit, one-run ball with four strikeouts. Nathan Comer earned the save for Averett with a scoreless frame.
Wilson singled home Brandt Brophy with an infield hit to shortstop to get the scoring started for the Cougars in the bottom of the third inning. Caden Griner drew a bases-loaded walk off of Anderson later in the frame to double Averett's lead, 2-0. AU's Nolan Maccabe stole third base and reach home on a Brevard throwing error in the bottom of the fourth as the Cougars stretched their advantage to a three-run margin.
BC began to chip away in the top of the fifth as Cale Oehler grounded out to second base, scoring Morton as the Tornados got on the board.
Each side went down in order in the sixth inning while the Tornados got runners at second and third base with only one out, but Brevard was held right there after a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.
Brevard found themselves in the same situation in the top half of the eighth inning as a walk, stolen base, and double gave the Tornados runners at second and third with one out. The BC threat was once again halted, this time by way of a groundout and strikeout.
Morton drew a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth to kickstart Brevard's ninth-inning rally. A pitch hit Burchett before Averett turned to Comer. Oehler laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position, and Clark stroked a ball into the gap in right-center field that was chased down by the Cougar center fielder. Morton scored with ease, and Burchett tested the arms of the Cougar defense by attempting to score from second. However, the Averett defense completed the relay throw and tagged Burchett at the plate to end the game.
GAME TWO - BREVARD 4, AVERETT 2
Crosby took the bump for the Tornados in game number two, turning on an impressive effort of three-hit ball through six innings allowing one earned run while striking out seven batters for his first career win. Bowers came on in the bottom of the seventh inning and shut down the Cougars, allowing just one hit with a walk over three scoreless innings to secure his fifth-career save.
BC's Zach Allison hit a double for his first extra-base hit of the season, while Burchett and Oehler collected singles. Sophomore Hayden Jennings notched his first collegiate hit in game two.
Averett's Cole McLain went 2-for-3 with a solo home run to lead the Cougar offense in the backend of the twin billing.
Maccabe got things started for AU in the bottom of the first, stealing third base and scoring on a throwing error as Averett took a 1-0 lead. McLain homered in the bottom of the third to double Averett's lead before BC put together a three-run fifth frame. Jennings and Burchett both scored on wild pitches to tie the game before a throwing error allowed Morton to score the go-ahead run.
BC left three runners on base in the top of the sixth with a chance to break the game open, as each side struggled for runs late. The Tornados got the insurance that they needed after a one-out Morton walk was followed by Burchett and Oehler singles. Clark grounded into an RBI fielder's choice that brought Morton home, as BC held a two-run lead with three outs left to get.
Bowers got a pair of flyouts before a fielding error and a single gave the Cougars two runners on with two outs. Bowers forced a popup in foul territory to earn the doubleheader split.
The Tornados travel to Toccoa, Georgia on Saturday, February 18 for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. against Toccoa Falls College.
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-BC-