Brevard, N.C. – Having had their originally scheduled double-header rained out yesterday afternoon, the Brevard College men’s baseball team played a twin bill against the Tusculum Pioneers on Sunday afternoon at Gil Coan Field. 

 

The Tornados suffered two tough losses on the day with the Pioneers winning the first game, 6-3, and sneaking away with a 1-0 victory in game two.

 

 

In game one the Tornados fell behind early to the visiting Pioneers and could not quite find their way back, falling at home 6-3.

 

The Pioneers got on the scoreboard first, pushing across two runs in the top of the second on a Marc Hyndsman single to right center field, which plated Carlos Rivera and Christian Rosa.

 

In their next at bat, Tusculum doubled up their run total, as designated hitter Eric Conley had a single to right center to score two and put the Pioneers up 4-0 after 2.5 innings played.

 

BC did not go away, as the Tornados scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut into the Tusculum lead. After the first two hitters made outs, Zac Williams hit a line-drive single up the middle. Senior outfielder Luke Lovelace followed with a single back up the middle to put two BC runners on with two outs in the inning. Right-fielder Adam Arrowood then doubled to right center field to plate both Williams and Lovelace and put the Tornados on the board.

 

With Arrowood on second, catcher Seth Corliss singled down the right field line to score Arrowood and cut the Tusculum lead to one at 4-3.

 

However, that was as close as Brevard would get, as Tusculum added two more runs in the top of the seventh on two hits, a walk, a hit-batsman and a sacrifice fly to go ahead 6-3, which would prove to be the final score.

 

The win went to Tusculum’s Boo Morrow (5-0), as the right-hander went five innings allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four.

 

Relief pitcher Tio McLean (2) picked up the save, giving up only two hits while striking out one in the final two innings of play.

 

BC hurler Spencer Linn (1-5) was saddled with the loss, as the junior gave up six runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits while striking out four Pioneer hitters while going all seven innings on the mound.

 

Arrowood led the Tornados at the plate, going 2-3 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. Corliss was 2-4 with an RBI, while fellow senior Lovelace was 1-4 with a run scored.

For Tusculum at the dish, Conley was 2-2 with a three RBIs and a base-on-balls, while Rivera was 2-4 with two runs scored. Catcher Hyndsman was 1-3 with two RBIs.

 

 

Game two of the twin bill on Sunday afternoon proved to be a pitcher’s duel between BC starter Shane Galloway and Tusculum’s Eric Donahue.

 

The two pitchers went head-to-head, shutting down the opposing team’s offense for most of the game.

 

The lone run of the game came off the bat of the Pioneer’s Christian Rosa, as the left-fielder hit a solo homerun over the left field wall in the top of the third to give Tusculum the 1-0 lead.

 

The solo shot proved to be enough for the Pioneer’s as Donahue and relief pitcher Mat Galens combined to throw a four-hit shut out over the seven inning contest.

 

TC’s Donahue (5-1) got the win, as he pitched 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing four hits.

 

Galens (2) picked up the save, as he threw the final 1.2 innings, striking out four of the five batters he faced.

 

Sophomore Shane Galloway (3-5) was saddled with the loss despite an outstanding effort on the mound. The left-hander gave up one run on six hits while striking out three hitters in seven innings of work.

 

BC’s Lovelace was 2-3 at the plate, while catcher Josh Miller and centerfielder Brice Warner were each 1-3 for the game.

 

For the Pioneer’s, Rosa was 1-2 with the solo homerun, which proved to be the lone run of the game. Second-baseman Maikol Gonzalez was 2-3 with a stolen base.

 

The Tornados (9-27) will look to get back on the right track on Tuesday, April 8, as BC will play host to King College. The single game is slated for a 2 p.m. start time at Gil Coan Field.

 

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