Rocky Mount, N.C. - N.C. Wesleyan secured a thrilling series-clinching victory over Brevard on Sunday afternoon at Bauer Field, walking it off in the 11th inning for a 9-8 win in an exciting extra-inning battle. The Battling Bishops totaled 15 hits and erased multiple deficits, showcasing resilience in a back-and-forth contest that stretched into the late innings.
Wesleyan answered an early 3-0 deficit with a five-run second inning to take control. Malachi Hayes got the rally started with an RBI single before Schumata Brown delivered a run-scoring double. Maison Nance reached on an error that brought in two more runs, and Banks Hartman followed with a hit to help cap the inning and give the Bishops a 5-3 lead. Wesleyan added another run in the fifth on an RBI from Hayes Hillier to extend the advantage.
Brevard responded with a big sixth inning to jump back in front, taking an 8-6 lead, but the Bishops continued to battle. In the eighth, Wesleyan tied the game as Hartman delivered an RBI single and Brady Williams followed with a run-scoring hit to even the score at 8-8. Both teams were held scoreless in the ninth and tenth innings as the game pushed into extras.
In the 11th, Wesleyan delivered the decisive moment. After two quick outs, Hayes kept the inning alive with a single before Brown came through with a clutch RBI double to right field, bringing home the winning run and sealing the 9-8 victory. The win secured the series for the Battling Bishops and capped off an exciting finish under the home crowd.
At the plate, Hartman led the way with four hits and an RBI, while Hayes recorded three hits and scored twice. Brown added two hits, including the game-winning RBI, and Nance contributed two hits and two RBIs. On the mound, Wesleyan used a combination of Chase Chappell, Ben Powers, Tyler Jumper, Drake Hobgood, and Jackson Pavone, with Pavone earning the win after two scoreless innings in relief.