Box Score BURLINGTON, N.C. – Win or go home. The King University baseball team squared off against North Greenville University in a matchup where a lot was on the line. Despite scoring first and holding an early 4-1 lead, the Tornado fell 8-6 in the Conference Carolinas tournament for the second time in as many days to end their season.
King (24-26) came out of the gates swinging scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. Jose Sola put the ball in play, reaching on a Crusaders fielding error to plate Braden Cook and Mark Hencken brought Sola around on a single into right center. However, North Greenville (28-20) answered in the bottom of the first off an Allen Staton sacrifice fly, plating Josh Black.
The Tornado crossed more in the top of the second to extend their lead to 4-1. Josh Stephens recorded an infield single to plate Jake Portugal who reached base by way of a single. Stephens scored on a J.P. Castaneda double down left field line. After two complete, King led North Greenville 2-1 in a win or go home contest.
In the bottom of the third, North Greenville cut their deficit to one when they scored two runs in the inning. Jae Roberts posted a solo home run and Tony Davila plated Staton on a single into right field. The Crusaders tied the contest up in the fourth inning off a Black groundout, scoring Shaquille Rolle. With four complete in Burlington, King and North Greenville were all knotted up at four.
The North Greenville offense exploded in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs, opening their lead to 7-4. Derrick Moore singled in the top of the sixth but with six complete; King trailed the Crusaders 7-4. The Tornado added nothing in the seventh and in the home half, North Greenville added another on a Wheeler Smith line out to center field, scoring Rolle. Into the eighth, King trailed North Greenville 8-4.
The Tornado left two on base in the top of the eighth and looked to score stay alive runs in the top of the ninth trailing 8-4. Tyler Raymond singled followed by a Cook walk to put runners on first and second. Sola doubled into center to post two runs on the board but the inning, game and season ended there for King as they fell to North Greenville 8-6.
Taking the loss for the Tornado was Heath Loyd while the win was given to Michael Bonifay. Sola posted two runs batted in the contest while Cook led the Tornado scoring twice. King left eight men on base while North Greenville stranded 10.
Playing their final game in a King uniform was Alex Martin, Josh Merrill, Portugal, Raymond, Sola and Eric Stapleton.
