MARS HILL, N.C. – The King University baseball team bounced back with a nonconference win in what was a see-saw affair at Mars Hill University on Tuesday afternoon. The Tornado scored eight runs over the final three innings, including a two-run home run from Joe Ganger to take the lead in the top of the ninth. Nathan Helke tossed the ninth, earning the save and giving King the 14-12 victory.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 14, Mars Hill 12
LOCATION: Henderson Field; Mars Hill, N.C.
RECORDS: King 6-7, Mars Hill 13-6
TIME OF GAME: 3:10

King Starting Lineup

1. Nicolas Keister – CF
2. Mark Hencken – C
3. Ryan Whitt – LF
4. Ryan Sattz – 1B
5. Austin Dayton – 3B
6. Anthony Hunt – DH
7. Tyler Bailey – SS
8. Preston Douglas – RF
9. Joe Ganger – 2B
Starting Pitcher: RHP Gus Gill

Mars Hill Starting Lineup

1. Rayshelon Carolina – CF
2. Dalton Eisenbath – LF
3. Evan Rogers – SS
4. Dylan Powers – DH
5. Brett Brubaker – 1B
6. Logan Conley – 3B
7. Hunter Merrill – 2B
8. Phillip Carroll – RF
9. Luke Baker – C
Starting Pitcher: LHP Troy Hall

KING HIGHLIGHTS

• Josh Stephens evened the score in the top of the ninth with a single and Ganger gave the Tornado at 14-12 lead with a two-run home run down the left field line.
• Hencken a King offense that pounded out 17 hits, going 5-for-6 with four runs scored and five runs batted in.
• Bailey went 3-for-5 and drove in one while Austin Dayton went 2-for-5 and drove in a pair.
• On the mound, Helke earned his fourth save of the season, striking out a pair in the ninth inning.
• Mitch Stophel earned his first win of the season, tossing one and two-thirds innings, allowing only one hit.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The teams went back-and-forth all day, starting with the first inning when King tallied one in the top half, but the Lions scored two in the bottom on back-to-back doubles.
• Hencken ripped a two-run home run in the third, putting King back on top, but Mars Hill scored three in the bottom half. The inning was started by a Rogers leadoff home run.
• Hencken drove in two more in the fifth, singling up the middle to even the score and Dayton gave King the lead with a single to center that scored Hencken.
• The Lions answered with three in the bottom half, two on a Conley home run.
• The lead went back to King in the seventh when Dayton drove in one with a single. A double play scored one and Bailey recorded a two-out single to put King ahead 9-8.
• Mars Hill got three straight run scoring singles in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead, and a sacrifice fly gave the Lions a 12-9 lead after seven.
• In the eighth, Hencken singled to score another and Sattz drove in another, pulling King within 12-11.
• Stophel wasted no time getting the offense back to the plate, setting the Lions down in order in the eighth.
• Hunt reached on an error to start the ninth and stole second. He advanced to third on an error before Stephens drove him in with a single up the middle, evening the tally.
• Ganger then followed with the two-run home run that put King ahead 14-12.
• Helke came on in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the first two batters. After a walk and stolen base, he induced a pop out to end the game, giving King the 14-12 victory.

FOR THE FOES

• Brubaker and Conley led Mars Hill with three hits apiece. Conley drove in three and scored twice.
• Evan Rogers drove in three on two hits while Carroll also recorded two hits and drove in two.

OF RECORD

Winning Pitcher: Stophel (1-0) 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
Save: Helke (4) 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Losing Pitcher: Blvins (1-2) 1.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO

UP NEXT

• The Tornado return home to face Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.
• Mars Hill takes on Saginaw Valley on Thursday.