Brevard, N.C. – The Brevard College women’s softball team extended their home winning streak to four in a row on Thursday afternoon, as they swept the Lady Cavaliers of Montreat College in a double tilt winning 4-2 and 4-3.

 

The Tornados have won five in a row dating back to their win in game two over Limestone back on February 9.  With the sweep the Tornados improve to 5-3 on the season, while Montreat falls to 0-8 with the losses.

 

 

For the third straight game, the Tornados jumped out to an early lead as they plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning.

 

Sophomore lead-off hitter Beth Brooker started the game off with a single. Shortstop Kristina Clayton then reached on an error by the pitcher, moving Brooker all the way from first to third on the play. After Clayton stole second, second-baseman Katie Thornburg singled driving in Brooker from third to put the Tornados on the board first at 1-0.

 

Later on in the inning with two outs, senior Kristin Tettemer singled to drive in Thornburg from second to put the Tornados up 2-0 after one.

 

The Tornados took a 3-0 lead, scoring one run in the bottom of the third on an Amber Klein double, which drove in Tettemer who had reached base on a fielder’s choice.

 

With a 3-0 lead, the Lady Cavaliers of Montreat would not go away as they got on the board in the top of the fifth inning, scoring two runs in the inning. BC sophomore Jennifer Gift walked in one run and gave up an RBI single to the opposing pitcher Haven Payne, but battled back to end the Lady Cavaliers threat forcing a ground out by Mandi Pike with the bases loaded to end the inning.

 

Brevard pushed across an insurance run in the bottom of the inning, as freshman first-baseman Sarah Carlos doubled to drive in a run and put BC ahead 4-2.

 

The Tornados Jennifer Gift picked up the win as she went 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and string out five. With the win Gift improves to 3-2 on the season.

 

The loss goes to Montreat’s Haven Payne, as she gave up four runs, one earned, on seven hits over 6.0 innings. Payne also struck out seven BC hitters.

 

At the plate, centerfielder Tettemer went 1-2 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk. Catcher Amber Klein was 1-2 with an RBI and a walk, while Katie Thornburg and Sarah Carlos each had an RBI on the day.

 

 

The Tornados pushed their winning streak to f our, as they came back to win game two with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

 

Montreat jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, as third-baseman Rachel Stowe hit a home run off of BC starter Aimee Rogers.

 

The Tornados stormed back in the third, as right fielder Lindsey Morgan led off with a walk. After Brooker fouled out, Morgan stole second. Kristina Clayton then singled to put runners on first and third with only one out. Clayton then stole second, while Katie Thornburg fouled out to make two outs with two runners on base for the Tornados. Morgan than scored on a Montreat wild pitch to even the score up at 1-1. Third-baseman Jennifer Brown then singled to drive in Clayton to give BC a 2-1 lead.

 

Montreat answered back with a run of their own in both the fourth and the fifth inning to push their lead to 4-2.

 

Brevard trailed 4-2 heading into their final at bat in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Morgan led off the inning with a base-on-balls, Brooker sacrificed her over to second. Shortstop Clayton then laid down a beautiful push bunt for a single, advancing Morgan to third. Katie Thornburg came up to the plate with one out and two runners on base. While at the plate, Montreat’s pitcher threw a wild pitch in a 1-1 count, allowing Morgan to score from third and knot the score up at 3-3. On the play, Clayton advanced to third. Thornburg then hit a line drive to right field to drive in Clayton for the game winning run.

 

Sophomore Jennifer Gift (4-2) picked up the win, her fourth of the season, as she came in to relieve starter Aimee Rogers.

 

Pitcher Shelby English took the loss for Montreat, as she went 6.1 innings giving up four runs on eight hits but with eight strikeouts.

 

Clayton led the Tornados at the plate, going 3-4 with two runs scored. Thornburg (1-4), Jennifer Brown (1-2) each had an RBI.

 

The Tornados (5-3) will not have long to rest, as they jump back into action on Saturday, February 16, when they will play host to the Lady Bobcats of Lees-McRae College. The first game of the double-header is set to begin at 2 p.m., with the second contest to follow approximately 25 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

 

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