BREVARD, N.C.— After playing a non-conference doubleheader against an NCAA Division II program on Saturday, the Montreat softball team battled an NCAA Division III opponent, the Brevard College Tornados, Monday afternoon in Brevard, North Carolina. Taking both contests of the twin bill by 8-0 and 10-3 scorelines, the Cavaliers improved to 25-7 on the year.
 
A quick start in game one aided the visitors along their way to a 5-inning run-rule triumph. Amayia Hernandez led off the ballgame with a solo shot to left, and she plated the initial run of the 4-run second frame via a single in the same direction. Haley Fethke's 2-RBI single expanded the Cav advantage to 4-0, and Makayla Reid brought the score to 5-0 through two as she closed out the inning with an RBI single through the left side.
 
Montreat put the game out of reach in the top of the fourth when it tacked on the final three runs of game one. Jasmine Rachal's team-leading sixth triple of the season pushed the edge to 6-0, and after Fethke drove in another Cavalier via a sacrifice bunt, Dayton Kell wrapped up the scoring with an RBI double.
 
Kendall Rubel collected her fourth win of the year as she surrendered just one hit across three innings of work. The Dunedin, Fla. native struck out two batters, and she retired the final eight Tornados she faced. Maddox Pleasants tossed the last two innings in the circle to secure the 8-0 win.
 
Hernandez (3-3), Reid (3-3) and Kell (2-2) reached safely in each of their plate appearances. Nine different Cavs tallied a knock as Montreat outhit BC, 14-5. Hernandez (3) and Rachal (2) scored multiple runs, while Fethke (3) and Hernandez (2) racked up several RBIs.
 
After failing to produce offensively in the opener, Brevard (6-17) scored twice in the bottom of the first to jump in front of the visitors, 2-0. The Cavaliers delivered a 2-spot of their own in the top of the third thanks to Rachal's bases-loaded walk and Fethke's sacrifice fly, but the Tornados came back with an RBI walk to maintain a 3-2 advantage through three.
 
Kell's fourth-inning solo blast knotted the score at three, and Montreat captured the lead for good in the top of the fifth. Fethke scored all the way from first on Reid's single to center, and Kell extended the edge to 5-3 when she lofted a sac fly just one batter later.
 
Hernandez contributed a pair of insurance runs in the sixth on an RBI double to left and a wild pitch. Montreat then piled on three more runs in the seventh, highlighted by Fethke's team-best sixth homer of the season, as it ultimately scored in each of its final five frames at the dish.
 
The Cavs' additional offensive support proved more than enough for Rubel, who took over in the circle during the bottom of the third. The sophomore threw 3 2/3 shutout innings in game two, striking out a pair while allowing merely two hits. As a result, Montreat clinched the doubleheader sweep with a 10-3 triumph, and Rubel's pitching record climbed to 5-2.
 
Fethke, Kell and Sage Dowis each batted 2-for-3 in game two as the away side totaled 10 team hits. Both Fethke and Kell also drove in a pair of runs, while Fethke and Alanna Hernandez each scored twice. Pleasants ended the matchup with a scoreless inning of relief work.
 
The Montreat softball team plays its fourth doubleheader in five days tomorrow afternoon when it heads to Gainesville, Ga. for an Appalachian Athletic Conference twin bill at Brenau University. First pitch of game one is slated for 3 p.m.