MARS HILL, N.C. – The King University baseball team dropped a back-and-forth affair at Mars Hill University on Wednesday afternoon. The Tornado held a 7-5 lead, but the Lion offense erupted to take the contest 20-8.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Mars Hill 20, King 8
LOCATION: Henderson Field; Mars Hill, N.C.
RECORDS: King 18-12; Mars Hill 8-20-1
TIME OF GAME: 3:43

King Starting Lineup

1. Tony Valdes – CF
2. Mark Michael – 3B
3. Tyler Bailey – SS
4. Kevin Barbato – LF
5. J.P. Castaneda – 2B
6. Hunter Barbour – 1B
7. Bubba Ruiz – DH
8. Trader Flora – C
9. Ashton King – RF
Starting Pitcher: RHP Evan Harof

Mars Hill Starting Lineup

1. Cody Cline – 2B
2. Brett Brubaker – RF
3. Matt Honeycutt – DH
4. Christian Stampler – C
5. Barrett Hennings – 1B
6. Josh Hall – LF
7. Gray McCurry – 3B
8. Lance Edwards – SS
9. Daniel Vitello – CF
Starting Pitcher: RHP Shomari Thomas

KING HIGHLIGHTS

• Valdes ripped his sixth home run of the season and his first leadoff home run.
• King laced his first career home run, a three-run shot.
• Castaneda scored two runs on two hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Valdes got the Tornado on the board early, ripping a leadoff home run in the first inning.
• However, the Lions came back and evened the score with a run in the bottom of the inning.
• Ruiz doubled to score Castaneda, giving the lead back to King in the top of the second, but Mars Hill answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning.
• The inning was capped by a Brubacker two-run home run.
• The Tornado responded with a five-run third inning, capped by a King three-run home run, lifting the Tornado back to a 7-5 lead.
• Mars Hill came back with five runs in the fourth inning behind a Honeycutt two-run home run, giving the Lions a 10-7 lead.
• The Tornado got one run back in the sixth as Barbato drove in Valdes, cutting the Tornado deficit to 10-8.
• In the seventh inning, Honeycutt drove in a pair for the Lions, Stampler ripped a three-run home run, and Hall capped the seven-run outburst with a two-run home run, putting the Lions ahead 17-8.
• Mars Hill added three runs in the ninth to take the contest 20-8.

FOR THE FOES

• Honeycutt and Stampler hit two home runs each with Honeycutt driving five and Stampler driving in four.
• Brubaker and Honeycutt scored four runs each.
• Hall posted three hits with two runs batted in and two runs scored.

OF RECORD

Winning Pitcher: Cameron Howell (1-0) 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Losing Pitcher: Christian Lindsey (2-2) 0.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO

UP NEXT

• King is scheduled to host Limestone College on Friday in a Conference Carolinas doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. The series concludes with a single game at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.
• Mars Hill hosts Coker College on Friday and Saturday.