The Brevard College baseball team (11-6) split a pair of non-conference battles with Pfeiffer University (3-5) on Sunday in Misenheimer, North Carolina.
Brevard fell in a nine-inning heartbreaker, 6-5, as the Falcons walked the first game of the doubleheader off. BC was able to bounce back, winning a 10-inning marathon, 3-2, to salvage the series split.
GAME ONE – PFEIFFER 6, BREVARD 5 (9 Innings)
With the contest tied at a 3-3 score through five innings in game one of the scheduled seven-inning contest, Pfeiffer would strike for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a two-run lead, 5-3. BC answered back in the top half of the seventh frame, scoring twice to tie things back up and send the game into extra innings. The Falcons were able to find the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth to take a thriller, 6-5.
Infielder Blake Burchett turned in a 3-for-4 performance with an RBI and two runs scored alongside a pair of stolen bases. Jason Jucker added two hits with a double and two RBI, Zach Allison scored two runs, and Cale Oehler logged a double.
Matthew Scavotto was the starting pitcher in the front end of the twin bill, hurling five innings allowing seven hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts. Cesar Rodriguez (1-1) totaled two and a third innings pitched, but surrendered the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Falcons squeaked by with the win.
Brandon Marsh led the Falcon offense with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate and a pair of RBI. Landon Evans, Austin Morton, and Jacob Williamson all had two-hit outings as well, all part of an 11-hit contest for the hosts.
Both teams were scoreless through the first two frames before a pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the third gave Pfeiffer the early 2-0 advantage. BC answered immediately back in the top half of the fourth, as Jucker stroked a ground-rule RBI double that plated Allison. Burchett then scored on a wild pitch before Frankie Vasquez‘ RBI single gave the Tornados their first lead, 3-2.
Brevard got a runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth but couldn’t convert, sending the Falcon offense back to the plate in the bottom of the frame. The Falcons loaded the bases with a single, walk, and fielder’s choice with an errant throw. Scavotto forced a ground ball double play, but the hosts tied things up at 3-3 as the matchup shifted to the sixth inning.
A pair of wild pitches cost the Tornados in the bottom of the sixth, giving Pfeiffer the lead back 5-3 heading into the game’s final inning. Brevard wasted no time, however, as Burchett singled home Allison to make it a 5-4 ballgame with no outs. Burchett stole second and advanced on a passed ball before Jucker drove in the tying run. BC loaded the bases up with one out, but the Falcons turned a critical double play to keep the contest knotted up.
Brevard went down in order in both the eighth and ninth innings before the Falcons loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth. Marsh was the hero for Pfeiffer, coming through with a single up the middle to give the hosts a 6-5 game one win.
Runners left on base ultimately came back to haunt the Tornados, as BC stranded eight runners in the contest to Pfeiffer’s three.
GAME TWO – BREVARD 3, PFEIFFER 2 (10 INNINGS)
Brevard was able to flip the script in game number two, finding the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning and holding on to secure a one-run win of its own, 3-2.
Both sides accumulated seven hits in the contest, with Logan Clark leading the Tornados with a 2-for-5 outing. Jack Atkinson, Burchett, and Jucker all had an RBI, with Atkinson also stealing a base.
Brevard’s pitching staff of Nathan Sanders, Noah Webb, and Bryce Bowers (3-0) were masterful in game number two, combining for 10 innings of work with seven hits and two earned runs, totaling nine strikeouts combined. Sanders was the game’s starter, going three innings with one earned run allowed and four K’s. Webb came on in relief and turned in two and two-thirds innings of scoreless work with a pair of strikeouts. Bowers worked four and a third, striking out three Falcons while earning his third win of the season.
Pfeiffer’s pitching staff totaled 14 strikeouts in the contest, but the effort was not enough as Brevard found the late winner in extra innings.
After a pair of two-out singles for the Falcons in the bottom of the sixth, Bowers came in and closed the door on the scoring threat by forcing a pop-out, sending the game to the seventh frame.
Pfeiffer got runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to convert, sending game number two to extra innings as well.
Brevard put a threat together in the top of the eighth with runners on second and third and two outs, but a Falcon strikeout ended the chance for BC.
BC juiced the bases up with two outs looking to find the go-ahead run. Jucker was hit by an inside pitch, scoring Joc Pledger to give Brevard a 2-1 advantage. However, walks cost the Tornados, as three straight free passes loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth. Pfeiffer used an RBI groundout to tie the contest, but BC prevented any further damage.
Brevard once again loaded the bases up with one out in the top of the 10th. Atkinson was hit by a pitch, scoring Vasquez and giving BC the go-ahead run. Bowers worked around a one-out walk and passed ball, getting a strikeout looking that sealed BC’s 11th win of the season, 3-2.