BREVARD, N.C. - Brevard College junior Logan Sawyer launched a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth that lifted the Tornados (8-14, 3-2 USA South) past Pfeiffer University (6-13, 2-3 USAS) in game one of Brevard's first USA South home series of the season on Saturday afternoon at Gil Coan Field.
Brevard used Sawyer's blast to push past the Falcons in game one, 13-11, before Pfeiffer responded with a 7-2 victory in the second game of the afternoon.
BC celebrated Little League Day on Saturday, partnering with the Transylvania County Little League. Festivities included a ceremonial first pitch and little leaguers running out with the Tornado starters.
GAME ONE: BREVARD 13, PFEIFFER 11
The first game of the twin bill proved to be a wild affair, as the two sides combined for 24 runs with 22 total hits and eight errors in the contest.
Wilson Lohrer got things started for the visitors in the top of the second by drawing a bases-loaded walk. Joe Javier then drove in a pair of runners on a two-RBI single, as Pfeiffer took the early edge, 3-0.
The Tornados responded with one swing of the bat, as Cale Oehler blasted a ball through the sunny Brevard sky and over the wall in center, notching his 20th career homer while tying the contest at three apiece.
Pfeiffer fought back in the top of the fourth, scoring runs on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to retake the lead, 5-3. The Falcons then added a pair on an inside-the-park home run and a wild pitch, stretching their lead out to a four-run margin.
The Tornados surged for a massive seven-run bottom of the fifth, scoring seven times with three hits, two errors, three walks, two HBP, and a wild pitch.
The frame begun as Sawyer reached first on a fielding error by the Falcons' pitcher. Oehler then drew a walk before Frankie Vasquez hit a single up the middle to cut the deficit to three runs, 7-4.
After a strikeout, Nico Bartolotti came up with a two-RBI double that played Oehler and Vasquez and sliced the Pfeiffer lead to just one 7-6.
Pfeiffer made a pitching change, but a HBP, walk, and wild pitch forced the Falcons to bring in their third pitcher of the frame. After tying the game on a wild pitch, Brevard used an RBI groundout and a two-RBI single to finish off the seven-run frame as the Tornados took their first lead of the ballgame, 10-7.
The Falcons responded with a flurry in the top of the sixth, scoring four times off two hits coupled with three Tornados misplays, and just like that the visitors regained the lead, 11-10.
After going down quietly in the bottom of the sixth and seven innings, BC's Vasquez recorded a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth. Luke Morton reached on a fielder's choice and stole second before Bartolotti came up big again with an RBI single that tied the contest up at 11 apiece.
Matthew Evans (1-3) sat down the Falcons in order in the top of the ninth. With two outs in the bottom of the frame, Hayden Jennings came up with a two-out base knock that was followed up by one of the biggest hits in recent Tornado memory - Sawyer's two-run shot that scored Kyle Andrew and lifted the Tornados to victory.
Vasquez went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored, while Oehler drove in a team-high five RBI. Evans was the pitcher of record for BC after his shutdown inning of work.
GAME TWO: PFEIFFER 7, BREVARD 2
Pfeiffer was able to respond in the second game of the doubleheader, doubling up the Tornados in the hit department (12-6) and capitalizing on seven free passes issued by the Tornados in game two for the five-run victory.
Jennings went 2-for-4 and came across the plate twice for BC's runs. Bartolotti, Oehler, Pyle and Vasquez each logged hits as well, with Oehler and Vasquez driving in runs.
Javier led the Falcons with a 3-for-4 outing at the plate. Thad Lewis (2-2) was dominant on the bump for the Falcons, allowing just two runs (one earned) on six hits with four strikeouts. Sean Safrit earned his second save of the season, working the final three innings of the matchup.
Colin Weathers (1-3) was saddled with the defeat after lasting 3.1 innings with five hits, five earned runs, and five walks issued. Jacob Thompson came on in relief for yet another quality appearance, going 5.2 innings surrendering seven hits and two runs with two strikeouts.
Brevard is back in play tomorrow at 1 p.m. for the rubber match of the three-game conference series.
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-BC-