BREVARD, N.C. - The Newberry College softball team continued their winning ways in the South Atlantic Conference season thus far as they breezed through Brevard College with a sweep of the Tornados, 8-1 and 6-0.

The duo of victories moved the scarlet and gray to 4-0 in SAC play and 23-6 overall. The four victories in conference play surpasses last year's win total of three in conference bouts. Picking up the victories for Newberry was Amanda Huckestein (Port Charlotte, Fla.), who pitched in both games.

Game One: Newberry 8, Brevard 1 - Box Score
The scarlet and gray opened up an early lead over the Tornados and never relinquished it as Newberry put up five runs in the first four innings before Brevard scored in the contest.

Newberry led off the first inning with two runs as Aissa Gatewood (N. Charleston, S.C.) reached second base on an error by the third baseman, Jennifer Brown, to open the game. Gatewood scored two batters later, when Huckestein doubled to right center giving NC the 1-0 lead. After Huckestein stole third base, she was driven in by a Chelsie Hilbourn (Loris, S.C.) triple down the right field line.

NC added two more runs in the third inning with a bases loaded single by Angela Cataldo (Sumter, S.C.) scoring Hilbourn and Huckestein, who both reached on singles in the inning. With a 4-0 lead Newberry added four more runs in the game as they rolled to an 8-1 victory.

Earning the victory was Huckestein, who moved to 12-2 on the season, with her seven strikeout performance, while only allowing five hits and one earned run. Leading Newberry in hits was Hilbourn and Powell as the duo teamed up for a 6-for-8 showing with a triple and a double.

Game Two: Newberry 6, Brevard 0 - Box Score
The scarlet and gray shutout their seventh opponent of the season as Huckestein improved to 13-2 on the year. Huckestein struck out six batters as she moved into a tie for fifth most victories in a season with Christina Kirby (2006) and Kayce McLeod (2004).

In the game, Kat Hammond (Irmo, S.C.) tied Newberry's single season homerun record of ten with her first inning blast over the left-field fence. The four-bagger tied Hammond with Melinda Lynch, who set the record in 2001. Hammond already holds the all-time Newberry homerun record with 31 in her career.

NC didn't score again until the fifth inning, where Newberry put three more runs on the scoreboard. Whitney Wiles (Iva, S.C.) led off with a single to third base. Wiles then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Richelle Mirabal (Tampa, Fla.). With a runner in scoring position, Christine Stokes (Charleston, S.C.) homered down the left-field line.

With a 3-0 lead, Hammond doubled down the left-field line scoring Gatewood, who reached on a bunt single.

NC scored two more runs in the game as they shutout the Tornados for the 6-0 victory and the conference sweep. The victory pushed Newberry to 23-6 on the year and 4-0 in the SAC.

Hammond led the scarlet and gray in hitting with her 3-for-4 performance with three RBIs. Hammond is now hitting .460 on the season, which leads the team.

Newberry returns to action this weekend as they take on the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial, who travel to Newberry for a conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 28 at 1 p.m. Last year, NC went 1-1 against LMU as they split the road doubleheader.