Brevard, N.C. – Due to inclement weather and the postponement of two originally schedule double-headers, the Brevard College women’s softball team was on the field and in action for the first time in eight days on Sunday afternoon as they took on the Lady Buffaloes of Milligan College.

 

The Lady Buffaloes defeated the Tornados in both games to improve to 5-3 on the season, while the two losses drop Brevard to 6-6 on the year.

 

In game one of the double tilt, the Tornados struggled from the plate but were able to stay in the game behind the arm of starting pitcher Jennifer Gift and some sound defensive play before ultimately falling in extra innings 2-1.

 

Milligan jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first, clean up hitter Leah White singled to score Sarah Smith from second and put the visiting Lady Buffaloes on the board first.

 

The Tornados got their only two hits of the game in the bottom of the third. Amber Clontz led off the inning with a walk, followed by Lindsey Morgan who reached base on an error by the short-stop. With runners on second and third, left-fielder Beth Brooker singled to load the bases up as neither runner was able to advance. With the bases loaded Kristina Clayton singled, only to have Milligan’s first-baseman come up firing to home plate to throw out Clontz who tried to score on the play. With one out and the bases still loaded, second-baseman Katie Thornburg hit a fly ball to left to score Morgan from third and tie the game up at 1-1.

 

The two teams played to a stalemate over the next four innings, sending the game into extra innings with the score remaining at 1-1.

 

In the top of the ninth, Milligan was able to break through as short-stop Ellyn Sapp doubled to right center to drive in Jessica Russell from second to go ahead 2-1.

 

The Tornados threatened in the bottom of the ninth, only to come up short, falling 2-1 to the Lady Buffaloes.

 

The win went to Milligan’s Sidney Burns, who came in the fourth inning and pitched six hitless innings while striking out six in relief action.

 

BC sophomore Jennifer gift (4-4) picked up the loss, despite a strong performance going all nine innings allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits and striking out 13 Lady Buffalo hitters.

 

At the plate, BC’s Brooker was 1-3, while Kristina Clayton 1-4. Katie Thornburg was 0-3 with a sacrifice fly, driving in the only BC run for the game.

 

Milligan’s Jessica Russell and Sarah Smith were both 1-3 with each one scoring a run on the day. Leah White was 1-5 with an RBI.

 

 

After being held to only two hits in game one, the Tornados started off game two on the right track, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning by way of a Jennifer Brown homerun bomb.

 

However, the Lady Buffaloes answered back with four runs of their own in the top of the second inning. Leah White led off the inning with a single and then stole second base. Second-baseman Mallory Tincher then reached on a BC error, while White scored all the way from second on the play to put Milligan on the board. Right-fielder Alicia Engle then singled to put runners on first and second with one out. After the next batter flied out to left, designated hitter Jessica Russell singled to load the bases up with two outs. Short-stop Ellyn Sapp then singled to plate two, followed by a Sarah Smith single to drive in Russell and but the Lady Buffaloes up 4-2.

 

Milligan added two runs in the top of the seventh inning on a White double to push their lead to 6-2.

 

In their last at bat, the Tornados scored one run as Amber Clontz drove in Sarah Carlos from third, who had reached base by way of a double earlier in the inning, to cut the Milligan lead to 6-3, but would not push another run across, falling to the Lady Buffaloes.

 

Right-handed pitcher Ryann Musick got the start and the win for the Lady Buffaloes, as she went 2.0 innings allowing two runs on four hits.

 

The loss went to the Tornados Amiee Rogers (2-2), who went all seven innings allowing six runs, four earned, on 11 hits.

 

At the plate, BC was led by sophomore Jennifer Brown, who was 1-3 with a homerun, two RBIs and a run scored. Second-baseman Katie Thornburg was 2-3 with a run scored, while Sarah Carlos and Katie Brown were both 1-3 for the game.

 

For Milligan, Sapp was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Leah White was 2-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Blevins was 2-4 with a double and a run scored, while Tincher was 1-4 with an RBI.

 

The Tornados will be back in action at home on Friday, February 29, when they will play the make up games for last Friday afternoons rain out. The Tornados will play a double-header versus Mountain State University, with the first game set to begin at 2 p.m.

 

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