BREVARD, N.C. - The Brevard College baseball team (6-7) made a pair of late comeback attempts in its home doubleheader against Greensboro College (6-5), however, both rallies came up just short as the visiting Pride swept the doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Gil Coan Field.
Greensboro withstood a late Tornado rally in game number one, claiming a 5-1 victory before winning the second contest in extra innings, 4-3.
The start time for the doubleheader was delayed an hour due to inclement weather and field conditions. Both matchups were played in a seven-inning format.
GAME ONE - GREENSBORO 5, BREVARD 1
A 2-for-3 outing from freshman infielder Noah Harris, who scored the lone run for the Tornados in the seventh inning, paced the Tornados' offensive performance in game number one. Jason Jucker brought home BC's lone run on a bases-loaded walk, while also stealing a base in a 1-for-3 outing.
Greensboro sent out starting pitcher Cameron Edwards (1-1) in the first contest of the twin Bill, as Edwards hurled five innings of three-hit, shutout ball with five strikeouts. BC's Bryce Bowers (0-1) made the third start of his collegiate career, lasting five innings and tallying five strikeouts with four earned runs. Freshman Cameron Cook made his second appearance of the season, shutting down the Pride in two innings of hitless ball.
GC's Devin Brackin and Braxton Rupp each went yard in the contest, while Cameron Peters and Jacob Rodriguez tallied doubles.
Both sides threatened to score in the first to no avail before the Pride loaded up the bases in the top of the second. A hit-by-pitch caused the first run of the contest to cross the plate, giving Greensboro the early lead.
Rupp kicked off the top of the third inning with a leadoff homer to double Greensboro's lead, 2-0. The Pride would touch Bowers up for one more in the frame to extend their advantage to a 3-0 margin.
Greensboro used a solo shot and an RBI-single in the top of the fifth to push its lead to 5-0. Brevard was able to get a runner within 90 feet in the bottom of the sixth before the side was retired with a groundout.
Brevard used a pair of singles and a walk to get itself in business in the game's final inning, as a bases-loaded Jucker walk put the Tornados on the scoreboard, 5-1.
With the bases still loaded and one out, JJ Wilkes sent a rocket to left field that was caught in stunning fashion by Pride left fielder Rodriguez, who proceeded to double the Tornados off on the play. A strikeout ended the contest in favor of the visitors.
GAME TWO - GREENSBORO 4, BREVARD 3 (8 Innings)
BC's Daiquon Davenport and Logan Clark each collected multi-hit performances in the series finale, as Davenport went 2-for-3 with a run while Clark accumulated a 2-for-4 day. Zach Allison hit a key two-RBI double, while Jucker also drove in a run. Peter Fumero notched his first hit as a Tornado - a double in extra innings - while Christian Ezzell logged a hit and a run scored.
Senior right-handed pitcher Jakob Dennis took the mound in his first career start with Brevard, lasting two innings while giving up just one earned run with a strikeout. Freshman left-hander Cesar Rodriguez notched a shutout performance, hurling three innings of four-hit ball without allowing a run. Senior Huntley Hacker (0-1) was the pitcher of record in the contest, throwing three innings with an earned run and a strikeout.
Greensboro's Scotty McGuire notched a 3-for-3 performance, while Layton Helms notched the victory on the mound, shutting the door on BC's comeback attempt in the seventh before clinching the triumph for the Pride in the eighth.
Rupp hit a sacrifice fly while Chance Bryant drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Pride an early 2-0 advantage. Following three scoreless innings, the Tornados were able to break through as Allison found the left-center field gap for a two-RBI double in the fifth that was followed by a Jucker RBI-single, giving the Tornados a 3-2 lead.
A costly throwing error allowed the Pride to tie the contest back up in the top of the sixth, 3-3. BC held off further damage in the sixth and seventh innings to keep the contest squared away as the Tornado offense looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh.
Fumero's first BC hit proved big, as the Miami native drilled a double down the line off the left-field wall with one out to put the winning run in scoring position.
A walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases as Helms came on in relief for the visitors with Wilkes stepping to the plate. Helms forced a key strikeout on a full count to send the contest to extra innings.
GC forced a leadoff walk that was followed by a sacrifice bunt. Greensboro's Brayden King hit a double down the left-field line to score the go-ahead run for the Pride, making it a 4-3 contest with the Tornado offense coming back to the plate
The Tornados were able to put runners on the corners with one out, however, a pop-up on a hit-and-run attempt caused a game-ending double play, handing the Pride the doubleheader sweep.
Brevard is scheduled to return to action on Saturday when the Tornados continue their season series vs. Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina at 3 and 6 p.m.
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-BC-