Brevard, N.C. – The Brevard College women’s softball team suffered two heartbreaking losses on Thursday afternoon, as the Tornados dropped both games of the double-header with North Greenville by one run. North Greenville won game one by the score of 2-1 and snuck out with a 3-2 win over BC in game two.

 

 

Despite the fact that the Tornados out hit the Lady Crusaders 5-4 for the game, BC was unable to push across more than one run, ultimately falling to North Greenville University 2-1.

 

North Greenville scored a run in the first inning on an RBI double Kayla Farmer to go ahead 1-0.

 

In the second inning, the Lady Crusaders pushed a run across on a Christina Shin double, to increase the lead to 2-0 heading into the third.

 

The Tornados got a run back in the bottom of the third, as right-fielder Beth Brooker singled to lead off the inning. Short-stop Kristina Clayton doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. After a line out to right field by Katie Thornburg, freshman Sarah Carlos drove in Brooker from third on a ground ball to short to cut the North Greenville lead in half at 2-1.

 

However, both offenses would struggle in the final four innings of play with the Lady Crusaders holding on for the 2-1 win.

 

North Greenville’s Kristyn Smith got the win, as she allowed one runs on five hits over seven innings.

 

BC sophomore Jennifer Gift (5-13) was handed the loss despite a strong performance in the circle for the Tornados. Gift allowed two runs on four hits while striking out eight in seven innings of action.

 

At the plate, the Tornados were led by Brooker, who was 2-3 with a run scored, and Clayton, who was 2-3 with a double. Designated hitter Amber Clontz was 1-3, while Carlos was 0-3 with an RBI.

 

North Greenville was led by Shin, who was 2-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, while Farmer was 1-2 with a double and an RBI.

 

 

In game two, the Tornados fell behind 3-0 to the visiting Lady Crusaders and could not quite get themselves out of the hole, falling 3-2.

 

North Greenville pushed across a run in each of the first three innings to pull ahead 3-0 heading into the fourth inning of play.

 

In the first, North Grenville scored on a sacrifice fly by Famer to right field to put them on top 1-0.

 

North Greenville scored in the second inning on a wild pitch with the bases loaded and then plated a run in the top of the third by way of a Katie Eargle RBI double to push their lead to three at 3-0.

 

The Tornados did not throw in the towel, pushing across two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the North Greenville lead to one at 3-2.

 

In the sixth, Brooker doubled followed by Clayton reaching base by getting hit by a pitch from the North Greenville hurler. After the next two BC hitters both popped out to second base, senior Kristin Tettemer hit a double to score both Brooker and Clayton and put the Tornados back in the game heading into the final inning of play.

 

However, BC failed to score in the bottom of the seventh, suffering their second loss of the day in the 3-2 loss.

 

North Greenville’s Krista Yeoman picked up the win for the Lady Crusaders, as she went 5.2 innings in the circle, giving up two runs on four hits.

 

NGU reliever Kristyn Smith picked up the save, as she struck out three in the final 1.1 innings of play to help preserve the win for the Lady Crusaders.

 

BC’s Gift (5-14) suffered the loss, as she again went the distance for the Tornados. Gift gave up three runs on nine hits over the seven inning contest.

 

Tettemer led the Tornados at the dish, as she was 1-3 with a double and two RBIs, while Brooker was 1-3 with a run scored.

 

The Lady Crusaders were led by Hope Brewer, as the shortstop was 3-3 with a run scored on the game, while Eargle was 2-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.

 

The Tornados (8-22) will look to get back on the right track on Saturday, April 12, as BC will play host to Tusculum College. The double-header is slated for a 1 p.m. start time.

 

###