Brevard, N.C. – With Saturday’s double-header washed out due to rain and snow, the Tornados played a double-header on Sunday afternoon versus the No. 24 ranked Catawba Indians at Gil Coan Field, with the two teams splitting the twin bill.

 

With the split the Tornados move to 7-13 on the season, while the Indians go to 15-8 on the year.

 

 

The first game of the double-header on Sunday afternoon proved to be an exciting extra inning affair, as the game went over three hours long, lasting 12 innings.

 

The two teams combined to score seven runs in the first three innings of play, before the bats went silent for both squads with the pitchers allowing only four runs in the final nine innings of play.

 

The Tornados jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, as designated hitter Josh Miller had a two out RBI single to centerfield, driving in junior Brice Warner from second base.

 

The No. 24 nationally ranked Catawba Indians answered back with two runs on two hits in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead.

 

Brevard regained the lead in the bottom of the second off of one swing by Warner, who hit a line drive over the leftfield wall with two runners on to put the Tornados ahead again at 4-2.

 

However, Warner’s three-run homerun in the second was the last time that the Tornados scored in the contest, as BC had only two hits in the final nine innings both off the bat of shortstop Mitch Hefner.

 

The Indians tied the score up at 4-4 in the top of the fifth, as pinch hitter Matt Kepley singled to right field to plate Jerry Sands, who had struck out but reached base on a wild pitch earlier in the inning.

 

Over the next six innings of play, the pitching dominated the game as neither team allowed a run heading into the 12th inning.

 

In the 12th, the Indians eventually got the bats going, plating three runs on four hits to take a 7-4 lead which proved to be the final score.

 

Both starters pitched well for the day, with each one picking up a no decision.

 

BC starter Spencer Linn went six innings allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits while striking out three Catawba hitters.

 

Catawba starter Tim Smith allowed four runs on four hits while striking out 10 BC hitters in seven innings of work.

 

The Indians Alex Fairweather (4-1) picked up the win in relief, as he went four innings of work allowing two hits while striking out six.

 

Senior Matt Seabolt picked up his third save on the season, as he pitched a scoreless 12th inning to preserve the 7-4 win for the Indians.

 

The loss went to junior Seth Laughter (0-3), as he gave up three runs on eight hits in six innings of relief.

 

At the plate for the Tornados, right-fielder Brice Warner was 1-5 with a three-run homerun. Shortstop Mitch Hefner was 3-5 with a run scored, while Josh Miller was 1-4 with an RBI.

 

For the Indians, third-baseman Craige Lyerly was 3-6 with two RBIs. Matt Kepley, who entered the game as a pitch hitter in the third, was 1-4 with two RBIs. Bubba Morris, Chad Baker and Weston Church all had one hit and an RBI in the game.

 

In game two of the double-header, the Tornados rallied behind the left arm of starting pitcher Shane Galloway to score a 3-1 win over the Indians in the seven inning contest.

 

The Indians jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second, as designated hitter Ryan Query led off the inning with a triple to centerfield and scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Kevin McMillan.

 

However, that was the last and only run that the high powered Catawba offense scored for the game, as BC starter Shane Galloway gave up only two hits in the remainder of the game.

 

The Tornados pushed across two runs in the bottom of the second, when second-baseman Adam Arrowood doubled down the right field line with the bases loaded and two outs, driving in two runs on the hit and putting BC ahead 2-1.

 

In the sixth, the Tornados added an insurance run as first-baseman Justin Frady hit a line drive shot through the left side of the infield to plate Warner from third and put the Tornados up 3-1.

 

Brevard’s Galloway (2-2) got the win for the Tornados, as he went the distance giving up one run on five hits.

 

The win was Galloway’s second on the season, with both games being complete games.

 

The loss went to Catawba’s Blake Kenter (3-2), who went the distance for the Indians, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits while striking out 11 BC hitters.

 

For the Tornados at the plate, Frady was 1-3 with an RBI, while Arrowood was 1-2 with a double and two RBIs. Brice Warner was 1-3 with a double and a run scored.

 

The Indians were led by Ryan Query, who was 1-2 with a triple and a run scored.

 

The Tornados (7-13) will next be in action on Tuesday, March 11, when they will travel to Tennessee to take on King College. The single game is slated for a 2 p.m. start.

 

###