Brevard, N.C. – The Brevard College women’s softball team hosted the SAC foe Wingate University on Wednesday afternoon, falling in both games of the twin bill in what proved to be close games throughout. The Lady Bulldogs of Wingate improve to 26-12 on the season with the sweep, while the Tornados fall to 8-18 overall.

 

 

Game one of the twin bill proved to be a pitcher’s duel for the first four innings as BC hurler Jennifer Gift and Wingate starter Brittany Blankenship held the other team’s offense at bay with the two starting pitchers allowing no runs in only seven hits combined over that span.

 

However, the Lady Bulldogs broke through in the top of the fifth, as Leyila Myers had an RBI single to score Jamie Millen from third to put Wingate on top 1-0.

 

The Lady Bulldogs added two runs in the top of the sixth by way of a Millen sacrifice fly and an Emily Chavis RBI single to pull ahead of the Tornados 3-0 heading into the bottom half of the inning.

 

In the bottom half of the sixth, the Tornados threatened putting runners on second and third, but had their threat ended by a ground out to second to end the inning.

 

Wingate added two more insurance runs in the top of the seventh and Blankenship put the Tornados down 1-2-3 in the bottom half to pick up the 5-0 win.

 

The win went to Wingate’s Blankenship, who threw the complete game shutout allowing only three BC hits while striking out six.

 

The loss went to Gift (5-10), as the sophomore went the distance, allowing five runs on 13 hits and walking six Wingate batters.

 

At the plate, third-baseman Jennifer Brown had two of the three BC hits for the game, as she was 2-3 for the game. Centerfielder Kristin Tettemer was 1-3 batting in the lead-off spot.

 

For Wingate, Chavis was 2-5 with an RBI while Millen was 2-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Third-baseman Hallie Pettigrew was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored for the contest.

 

In the second game of the double header, the Lady Bulldogs came out swinging, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead after the first two innings of play.

 

Wingate scored three runs in the top of the first, as Emily Chavis had a bases clearing double which plated three runs for the Lady Bulldogs.

 

With the 3-0 lead, the Lady Bulldogs pushed two more runs across in the second, both of which were unearned due to two BC errors on the inning.

 

After the Lady Bulldogs pushed the lead to 6-0 in the fourth on a Pettigrew bunt single, the Tornados comeback proved to be too little too late.

 

Brevard scored a run in the seventh as Beth Brooker singled the left-side of the infield to score freshman Sarah Carlos, who had doubled earlier in the inning, to spoil the shutout for the Lady Bulldogs.

 

Wingate’s Blankenship got the win, her second of the day, as she pitched two hitless innings of ball.

 

Cristin Kelly came on in relief for the Lady Bulldogs, as she went the final five innings allowing one run on four hits while striking out five BC hitters.

 

The loss went to BC’s Aimee Rogers (3-8), as the senior was knocked out of the game early, as she allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on two hits in 0.2 innings of work.

 

BC first-baseman Carlos was 1-3 with a double and a run scored, while Brooker was 1-3 with an RBI. The other two hits came by way of Kristina Clayton (1-3) and Lindsey Morgan (1-2).

 

At the plate for Wingate, LaRonda McClain was 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Pettigrew was 2-4 with an RBI and one run scored. Chavis was 1-3 with a double and three RBIs and Heather Winchester was 1-3 with a double and a run scored.

 

The Tornados (8-18) will not have long to rest, as BC will look to regroup as they play host to the Lady Indians of Newberry College tomorrow afternoon at the Brevard College Softball Field. The start time is slated for 2 p.m. The double-header was rescheduled from a rain out earlier this season.

 

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