Page 8
Sports
The Clarion | March 4, 2020
BC softball drops two to Averett
BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College
Softball team (2-4) dropped both games of a
home doubleheader vs. Averett University (3 -1)
on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Ives-Lemel
Family Field.
The Tornados held a 1 -0 lead through three
innings of game one and trailed 3-2 after five
innings of game two, yet ultimately came up
short in both contests against a highly regarded
Averett club. The Cougars were picked second
in the USA South Conference Division coaches
poll with two first-place votes.
GAME ONE - AVERETT 5, BREVARD 1
Redshirt freshman Jordan Kielson (2-
1) pitched another complete game for the
Tornados and took a hard-luck loss after
allowing five runs, but just one earned run.
Kielson allowed 12 hits but did not allow an
extra-base hit in her outing that included five
strikeouts and just one walk.
Averett's starting pitcher Taylor Bailey (1-0)
hurled a two-hitter allowing one unearned run
with three strikeouts and one walk.
After stranding a Cougar bass runner in the
top of the first, Brevard was able to take an
early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the opening
frame.
Freshman shortstop Mikayla Morgan drew
a walk in BC's first at-bat of the game, then
advanced to third following an Averett
throwing error. Junior third baseman Emily
White then reached base on a fielder's choice
and recorded an RBI on a play that scored
Morgan.
Kielson and the Tornado defense then
stranded two more Cougars in the second and
another base runner in the third to protect the
1-0 lead.
Averett scored an unearned run in the fourth
to tie the game, then took the lead 2-1 on an
RBI-single in the fifth which proved to be the
only earned run of the contest.
Three more unearned runs came home in the
sixth inning to extend the Averett lead to 5-1.
Bailey then retired the Tornados 1-2-3 in the
bottom of the sixth, then shut out BC again in
the seventh to secure the complete-game win.
White and junior second baseman Brittany
Franks were the only Tornados to record hits
off of Bailey in game one, with sophomore left
fielder Jocyln Folkers adding a sacrifice bunt.
Despite the loss, starting pitcher Kielson
continued her sensational debut as a Tornado.
The native of Canton, North Carolina has
allowed just two earned runs in 19 innings
pitched for an ERA of 0.74 through three
appearances.
GAME TWO - AVERETT 7, BREVARD 2
Freshman Beth Hyatt and junior Mari Cook
each registered two-hit performances for BC,
however, the Cougars were able to take the
doubleheader sweep via two big innings.
After both teams went scoreless through the
first two innings, Averett struck first with a
three-run output in the top of the third. With
one out, the Cougars scored an unearned run
on an RBI-single following a throwing error. A
2-RBI double in the next at-bat then increased
the AU lead to 3-0.
Brevard answered with two runs in the
bottom half of the third. With one out, Hyatt
singled to left field followed by a walk by
Folkers. With two outs both runners then
advanced a base on a failed pick-oflf attempt
error by Averett. Morgan promptly hit a two-
RBI single to score both Hyatt and Folkers and
cut the deficit to one run.
Sophomore Ali Grace Hartman and Hyatt hit
singles to lead off the fifth inning. However,
both base runners were stranded on base as
the Tornados were unable to tie the game or
take the lead.
Averett then emphatically added four runs
in the top of the sixth to put the game away.
The Cougars hit an RBI triple with another
run scored on an error on the play. Later in
the inning with two outs, Averett hit three
consecutive doubles to add two more runs.
Bailey (2-0) earned her second win of the
day for the Cougars, this time by pitching 2.1
innings of relief Starter Micayla McCoy (0-3)
took the loss after allowing seven runs (four
earned) on 11 hits.
Next up for Brevard is a trip to the Fastpitch
Dreams Spring Classic to be held March 8-12
in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. At
the event, the Tornados will play eight games
against eight different opponents.
To follow the latest news and updates
surrounding Brevard College Athletics, follow
the Tornados on Twitter and Instagram @
bctornados, subscribe to 'Brevard College
Tornados' on YouTube, follow 'Brevard College
Tornados' on SoundCloud, and like Brevard
College Athletics on Facebook. Be sure to
follow "brevardcollege" on Flickr for the latest
photos from all Brevard College events.
Photo by Victoria Brayman
Mikayla Morgan up to bat at Ives-Lemel Family Field.