Brevard, NC - Brevard College plated five runs in the home half of the first inning and cruised past Northern Vermont University-Lyndon, winning 10-4 in the opening game of a three game series between the two baseball teams. Brevard improved to 4-3 on the season while Lyndon fell to 1-2.
After the Hornets went quietly in the top of the first inning, Brevard jumped on the Hornets in their first at bat. Blake Burchett was hit by a pitch leading off, then stole second. After Zach Allison walked, Logan Clark's base hit to left drove in Burchett to put the Tornados ion front. Cale Oehler followed with a triple, driving in to more runs. Oehler scored on Frankie Vasquez's infield hit. Vasquez later came home when Riley Hochrine reached on an error. By the time the Hornets finally retired the side, Brevard had a 5-0 lead.
Oehler's two-out solo home run in the bottom of the second inning made it 6-0.
Lyndon got on the board in the top of the third inning. Brandon Fernandez (Sayreville, NJ) got things started with a one-out base hit. Mark Osorio (Manchester, CT) singled, then Dylan Wilson (Monroe, CT) walked to load the bases. Tyler Murro (Littleton, NH) then drew a two-out walk to drive in Lyndon's first run. Brevard avoided further damage, as Lyndon left the bases loaded.
Lucas Granata got the run back for Brevard. He led off the bottom half of the third inning with a solo home run to right field. Both teams were kept off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings.
The Hornets got two runs back in the top of the sixth inning. Steven Friscia (Smithtown, NY) doubled to get things going. Alberto Bustmante (Los Angeles, CA) and Matt Gonyeau (St. Albans, VT walked to load the bases, then another walk to TJ Santaw (Newport, VT) walked to score a run. The Hornets put another on the board following a wild pitch, but Brevard was able to avoid further damage.
Brevard answered with two runs of their own in the home sixth. Allison walked and Oehler singled, then a Vasquez double scored both runners, making it 9-3, Brevard. The Tornados would add an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lyndon would load the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh inning, but the Hornets groiunded into a double play and only scored one run.
Brevard starter Jacob Thompson went five innings to pick up the win. Nathan Bigelow (East Hampton, CT) took the loss for Lyndon.
The Hornets and Tornados will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Friday. The first pitch for game one is scheduled for 11:00 am. The teams were originally scheduled to play single games on Friday and Saturday, but Saturday's game was moved up a day due to expected inclement weather in Brevard on Saturday. The start time for the Hornets' game against Guilford College scheduled for Saturday at Brevard has been pushed up to 12:00 noon.
