Brevard, N.C. – The Brevard College women’s softball team opened up their 2008 home slate on the right track on Monday afternoon, as the Tornados took both games of a double-header from the visiting Virginia Intermont Lady Cobras.

 

With the sweep on Monday afternoon, the Tornados improve to 3-3 on the year, surpassing their win total from all of last season. The loss drops Virginia Intermont to 0-2 on the season.

 

 

The Tornados dominated in game one of the double-header, defeating the Lady Cobras of Virginia Intermont 8-0 in five innings. 

 

BC jumped on the Lady Cobras early, as lead-off hitter Beth Brooker scored on a wild pitch to give the Tornados a 1-0 lead after one inning of play.

 

The Tornados then used a big third inning to pull ahead of Virginia Intermont 4-0. After the first two BC hitters made outs, second-baseman Katie Thornburg started things off with a single. After third-baseman Jennifer Brown drew a base-on-balls, senior outfielder Kristin Tettemer singled to load the bases. Junior catcher Amber Klein then belted a triple, clearing the bases and driving in three runs.

 

After pushing another run across in the bottom of the fourth, the Tornados used a three run fifth inning to seal the win by the run rule. With one out, Brown singled which was followed by a line drive off the bat by Tettemer right at the second-baseman, who couldn’t handle the hit and allowed Tettemer to reach safely. After a sky-high fly out to left field by Klein, Amber Clontz would reach base on an error. With the bases loaded, Brown would score on a wild pitch to put the Tornados up 6-0. Freshman first-baseman Sarah Carlos would then walk, and then senior Lindsey Morgan singled two pitches later to drive in both Tettemer and Clontz to give BC the 8-0 win.

 

The Tornados sophomore hurler Jennifer Gift (1-2) picked up her first win of the season, as she went 5.0 innings allowing only one hit and racked up 10 strikeouts.

 

Picking up the loss for the Lady Cobras was Megan Branson (0-1), as she went 4.2 innings giving up eight runs, five of those earned, on eight hits. Branson struck out six for the game.

 

At the plate, Brevard was led by Amber Klein, who went 1-3 with a triple and 3 RBIs. Freshman Sarah Carlos went 1-3 with a walk, while sophomore shortstop Kristina Clayton was 1-2 with a sacrifice and an RBI. Senior Lindsey Morgan 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Both Brown and Tettemer each scored two runs for the game.

 

Virginia Intermont’s lone hit of the game came in the second inning by way of designated hitter Kayla Mitchell. Mitchell went 1-2 with a single.

 

 

In the second game of the day, the Tornados were able to push across three runs on only two hits, using their speed on the base paths to force three Virginia Intermont errors.

 

The Tornados again jumped out front of the Lady Cobras, scoring in the bottom of the first inning.

 

BC lead-off hitter Beth Brooker reached on an error and then stole second base. Kristina Clayton then laid down a beautiful bunt for a base hit, advancing Brooker to third. After Clayton stole second, junior Katie Thornburg singled to left to drive in Brooker from third to put the Tornados on the board 1-0. Clayton would cross the plate later on in the inning to give the Tornados a 2-0 lead after one inning of play.

 

The Tornados would push across one more run in the bottom of the second as senior Lindsey Morgan scored on a Virginia Intermont error to put BC ahead, 3-0.

 

Virginia Intermont fought back in the top of the third, as Megan Branson reached base on a BC error. Catcher Kayla Mitchell then singled to left field, putting runners on first and second with no outs. After a fielder’s choice left runners on first and second, a wild pitch allowed the runners to advance putting two runners in scoring position with only one out.

 

BC pitcher Aimee Rogers then got Sheena Malone to pop out to second for the second out of the inning. With two outs, pitcher Melissa Hudgen singled to center to drive in two runs and put Virginia Intermont back in the game, down 3-2. Rogers then got Virginia Intermont’s Katie Porcedos to fly out to center to end the inning and preserve the one run lead.

 

Rogers and sophomore Jennifer Gift would shut down the Lady Cobras over the next four innings to uphold the Tornados 3-2 lead.

 

Senior Aimee Rogers (2-1) picked up the win for the Tornados, as she went 5.0 innings allowing two runs, one of which was earned, on five hits and struck out three.

 

Gift, who won game one, came back and game two to pick up her first save of the season, going 2.0 innings and striking out two.

 

The loss goes to Virginia Intermont’s Melissa Hudgen (0-1) as she went 4.0 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on two hits and striking out two.

 

Shortstop Kristina Clayton and second-baseman Katie Thornburg both went 1-3 from the plate in game two, with Thornburg picking up an RBI. First-baseman Sarah Carlos also picked up an RBI for the game.

 

Pitcher Melissa Hudgen, hitting for herself in the two hole, went 3-4 with two RBIs.

 

The Tornados (3-3) will be back in action at home on Thursday, February 14, when they will play host to Montreat College. The first game of the double-header is slated for a 2 p.m. start.

 

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