Gaston College dramatics give Rhinos a doubleheader sweep of Cleveland Community College

Serena Yalich hit a go-ahead home run and Brantleigh Parrott pitched out of a bases-loaded jam as Gaston College rallied to defeat Cleveland Community College 9-8, completing a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday at CaroMont Health Park.

The rally from an 8-0 deficit followed a 6-1 victory for the Rhinos in the opener.

Yalich's solo shot to center field, her second round-tripper of the day, broke an 8-8 tie in the bottom of the fifth.

The Rhinos (10-2) started their improbable comeback in the bottom of the fourth. Asheton Queen's three-RBI double to right center field was the key hit as the Rhinos scored five runs to trim the deficit to 8-5.

A three-run bottom of the fifth, highlighted by Gabrielle Porterfield's two-run single through the left side of the infield, knotted the score.

Parrott, who won both games in a relief role, worked her way out of a two-out, bases-loaded situation in the top of the seventh, striking out Alexis Shope to end the game.

A freshman from Central Cabarrus High, Parrott struck out 19 batters in her two appearances in the twinbill.

Parrott got a visit to the circle from head coach Michael Steuerwald after walking two straight batters in the top of the seventh with no outs and Gaston leading 9-8.

"He (Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald) asked me what pitch I wanted to throw and what I was comfortable with," Parrott said. "I just needed a break since I was all riled up and everything with people on base. Just having to calm down helped me a lot."

After the session, Parrott struck out two in a row, yielded a bunt single in front of the plate to fill the bases, and then fanned Shope to close out the Yetis (2-6).

Queen (1-2, three RBIs), Parrot (2-4, RBI) and Porterfield (1-4, two RBIs) led the Gaston College offense.

"Anytime you can come back from 8-0 is huge," Steuerwald said. "And to do it against a team right down the road is a big thing for us. We get a lot of the same local kids that we are going after from a recruiting standpoint. It's even more so because of the level of competitiveness we can show as a team, to find a way to get through to the end."

In the opener, the Rhinos struck for four runs in the second inning and made the lead stand up behind Parrott's clutch relief pitching.

Parrott spelled starting pitcher Amiya Tomlinson in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded and one out. Parrott proceeded to strike out Shope and Mallory Haynes to retire the side with no runs across.

The Rhinos got two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth on Yalich's home run to center field.

In the top of the seventh, Parrott retired the side in order to close out the game. In 3 2-3 innings, Parrott held the Yetis hitless while striking out 10 and walking none.

In Gaston College's decisive four-run second inning, Grace Manning led off with a home run off CCC starting pitcher Brooke Dover.

Gracie Brown and Queen followed with back-to-back hits to plate another run, and Queen slid in at home safely on a wild pitch. Porterfield scored the fourth run of the inning on Parrott's single.

Parrott (2-4, RBI) and Porterfield (2-4) had multiple hits to lead a nine-hit Gaston College attack in the opener.

For the Rhinos, starting pitcher Tomlinson went 3 1/3 innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking and walking five. Parrott was credited with the pitching win in relief.

The Rhinos hit the road Friday for a doubleheader at Fayetteville Tech (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.).