BREVARD, N.C. – Ryne Rodrigues (Summerfield, N.C.) blasted a ball over the centerfield fence at Gil Coan Field, capping a six-run seventh that flipped a three-run deficit into a three-run advantage for the Guilford College baseball team (7-1, 0-0 ODAC), who took game one, 14-12, but did drop their first game of the season in game two, 12-1, against Brevard College (2-9, 0-0 USA South) on Saturday afternoon.

Marcello Ricigliano (Kernersville, N.C.) got the ball in game one but had some trouble, allowing ten runs, all earned, on seven hits, three walks, and two hit batsmen over just 3.2 innings, although he ended up off the hook thanks to his offense. Jackson Marcellus (Chapel Hill, N.C.) entered and threw 2.1 innings of effective baseball allowing one run on two hits and two walks, fanning one to claim the win and improve to 3-0. Chase Wade (Archdale, N.C.) then allowed one run on a hit and two walks in the seventh, but he maintained the lead to finish his first save of the season.

Colin Weathers was okay for the Tornados completing the first 4.0 innings allowing six runs, three earned, on four hits and two walks, striking out two although he did not factor into the decision. Instead, Andrew Bernard, who ended up responsible for six runs, all earned, on four hits and two walks while getting just one out in the seventh finished on the hook for the loss to fall to 0-1.

Rodrigues' long ball was his biggest swing, but he was productive all of game one, going 4-for-4, scoring three times and driving in four. Carter Blum (McLeansville, N.C.) was the only other Quaker with two hits in the contest, going 2-of-3 with two runs scored. Ethan George (Burlington, N.C.) only recorded one official at-bat, but had a hit and drove in two runs and Christian Chinen (Honolulu, Hawaii) also plated a pair, going 1-for-2 with a walk.

Tyler Kelson had three hits, including a homer, scoring three times and driving in two for the hosts in game two. Lucas Granata went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three driven in while Logan Racine brought four runs in despite just having one hit.

In the second contest, Jacob Ray (Burlington, N.C.) did not get help from his defense, but still only lasted 1.0-plus with five runs scoring, two of them earned, on two hits and three walks, suffering the loss to fall to 0-1.

Zach Wilson was really good in game two for BC, permitting just a single unearned tally on five hits and two free passes while striking out five in 5.0 innings to improve to 2-0.

GC could not get their offense going in the second contest as just Rylan Smith (Archdale, N.C.) had multiple hits, going 2-of-3 and driving in the lone GC run, scored by Skyler Dark (Pleasant Garden, N.C.). Sam Melton (Cartersville, Ga.) owned their only extra-base hit with a double.

Brevard, like Guilford, only had six hits in the late contest, but they made the most of them with C.P. Pyle and Cale Oehler each connecting on a home run. The former also had a walk and scored twice while the later went 2-for-3, scored three times and drove in four. Nico Bartolotti also drove in two runs over a 1-of-4 game for the Tornados.

GAME 1
Brevard struck early against Marcello Ricigliano (Kernersville, N.C.), as C.P. Pyle led off with a single, stole second, and took third on a flyout, although it did not make much of a difference as Tyler Kelson and Cale Oehler got hit by a pitch and walked immediately after loading the bases with one out. Frankie Vasquez opened the scoring, dumping a single into right-center to score a pair then Lucas Granata brought in another run. A bunt single reloaded the bases before a potential inning-ending double play ball was mishandled as another run scored and while Ricigliano escaped further damage, the hosts had a 4-0 edge.

The Quakers immediately responded in the top of the second. Chase Wade (Archdale, N.C.) and Ryne Rodrigues (Summerfield, N.C.) opened the inning with a single and HBP. Grayson Tudor (Reidsville, N.C.) was then tasked with a sacrifice bunt and executed but the ball got thrown away allowing the lead runner to dart home. Carter Blum (McLeansville, N.C.) got plunked, loading the bases for GC then Christian Chinen (Honolulu, Hawaii) drew a free pass to force in the run and Ethan George (Burlington, N.C.) plated another with a sacrifice fly. The second throwing error of the inning by the third baseman permitted Rylan Smith (Archdale, N.C.) to reach and the tying run to score.

After Brevard retook the lead on Kelson's first longball of the season, Guilford grabbed the advantage for the first time in the top of the third. Rodrigues and Tudor singled then Blum bunted them both up another 90 feet. Chinen brought in the leveling tally with a grounder to third then George claimed the lead for GC by legging out an infield hit, to make the score 6-5.

The Tornados responded again in the bottom of the fourth as after the first out was recorded, a walk, HBP and an infield hit loaded the bases. Oehler brought one in with a sacrifice fly then another free pass reloaded the bags. A Granata single to center plated two and prompted a pitching change as Jackson Marcellus (Chapel Hill, N.C.) entered and walked the first man he faced, Nico Bartolotti. Logan Racine would come through, splitting the left-centerfield gap and clearing the bags to make the score 11-6.

Marcellus would settle in during his clean innings of work, and GC took advantage of the opportunity. In the fifth, Grayson Tudor (Reidsville, N.C.) scored on a wild pitch and Blum came home on a throwing error by the pitcher, but the big rally came in the Quakers' final trip to the plate. Jordan Burrough (Greensboro, N.C.) led off with a walk and CJ Buchan (Williamsburg, Va.) singled, flipping over the lineup as Devin Tonkins (Greensboro, N.C.) and Hayden Sekanick (Tampa, Fla.) pinch ran for them respectively. Skyler Dark (Pleasant Garden, N.C.) singled in a run, then Smith did the same two batter later. Wade drew ball four and that set the stage for Rodrigues who bashed the 1-2 pitch just to the left of straight-away center for the go-ahead blast.

Brevard got a run on a Kelson RBI-single in the bottom of the seventh, but with the tying run aboard, Wade was able to shut it down and finish the win.

GAME 2
Guilford would draw first blood in game two, as Skyler Dark (Pleasant Garden, N.C.) led off with a single then advanced on a passed ball and Rylan Smith (Archdale, N.C.) brought him home on a single. Unfortunately, it would be all BC the rest of the way.

C.P. Pyle would tie things as rapidly as possible, hitting a leadoff home run for Brevard and after the first out, a walk, a fielder's choice with an error resulting in no outs recorded, and a walk loaded the bases. Nico Bartolotti brought in two runs with a single up the middle and a balk allowed another run to score as the hosts grabbed a 4-1 lead.

After adding one run on a Gavin Grant sacrifice fly in the second, the Tornados blew the game open in the fourth. With one out, Pyle walked and advanced on an errand pickoff attempt. Another walk and a hit batsman loaded the based and Cale Oehler brought in two runs on a single, prompting a pitching change as Jacob Phillips (Browns Summit, N.C.), who had relieved Jacob Ray (Burlington, N.C.) in the second, was now supplanted by Jack Ratliff (Greensboro, N.C.). Another HBP, and a walk forced in a run prior to the second out then another free pass forced in the inning's fourth tally. Another pitching change brought Reese Baker (Ashland, Va.) in and he allowed an inherited runner to score on a Jackson Mix single before ending the inning with the score 10-1.

Oehler hit a two-run homer off Baker in the fifth, but generally the game settled down although the Guilford offense could not get going, ultimately falling, 12-1.

The Quakers wrap up their stretch of road contests making the short trip over to Winston-Salem to play Carolina University next. First pitch is set for 1:00 PM.

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