No. 23 Gaston College stays unbeaten, pitcher Abigail Brewton set career wins record

Gaston College's No. 23-ranked softball team improved to 6-0 with another impressive doubleheader sweep on Thursday as sophomore pitcher Abigail Brewton set a school record for career pitching victories.

The Rhinos swept Bryant & Stratton, Va., by scores of 9-1 and 17-4 in games shortened to five innings by the mercy rule at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.

It's the third doubleheader sweep of strong programs as Gaston College opened their season by sweeping the top-ranked Division III National Junior College Athletic Association team (Patrick & Henry, Va.) and the No. 3 Division III team (Caldwell Tech); Bryant & Stratton advanced to the 2024 NJCAA Division II World Series.

In the nightcap, Brewton picked up her 25th career win with a 1 1/3-inning relief effort. Brantleigh Parrott went 24-1 during the 2023 season with Brewton going 22-2 last season and 3-0 so far this year.

"She was ready to go in relief," said Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald, who brought Brewton on in relief in the Bobcats' four-run fourth inning.
"We didn't play sharp in that inning but then our offense really responded and we had a lot of people really pick us up, including some people coming off the bench."

Did they ever. After Bryant & Stratton took a 4-3 lead after 3 1/2 innings, the Rhinos erupted for 14 runs highlighted by Chloe Young's RBI double, RBI singles from McKenna Jones, Alayna Patrick, Savanna Price, Kendall Bradshaw and Skye Harrington, McKinley Matthews' bases-loaded RBI walk and Grace Kealy's RBI sacrifice fly.

"I think we're starting to see and realize how good we're capable of being," Steuerwald said. "We've got plenty of pieces on this team up and down the lineup, in the circle and defensively where we can find a way to get the job done."

For the day, Bradshaw (4 hits, double, 2 RBIs), Sarah Johnson (4 hits, double, 6 RBIs), Jones (4 hits, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs) and Patrick (3 hits, 1 RBI) led a 23-hit offense.

On the mound, Kristyn Ezzo threw a 3-hitter with seven strikeouts in the opener and Savanna Mullins (3 1/3 innings), Phoebe Cole (1/3 inning) and Brewton) combined on a 1-hitter.

Gaston College returns to action on Saturday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Caldwell Tech. The Rhinos then return home for three doubleheaders in four days next weekend at CaroMont Health Park - Feb. 6 at 1 p.m. against Pellissippi State, Feb. 7 at 3 p.m. against Monroe, N.Y. and Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. against Louisburg.

"I think the good thing is that this schedule is going to challenge this group's maturity and how we show up day-in and day-out," Steuerwald said. "Going to Caldwell is going to be a challenge and then we've got a stretch of really good teams coming up.
"For us, it'll be good to see where we're at and build on what we've been doing."