BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University softball team recorded their second sweep in as many days, taking both ends of a twinbill with West Virginia State University. The Tornado took game one 10-2 before winning the nightcap 12-5.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 10, West Virginia State 2; King 12, West Virginia State 5
LOCATION: King Softball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 7-3; West Virginia State 1-5
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Carly Turner led the offense with five hits, all doubles, including a 4-for-4 performance in game two. She drove in eight runs on the day, including six in game two.
- Rikkelle Miller posted four hits, three doubles and drove in two on the day.
- Samantha Helms and Tinsley Thompson registered three hits each while Meagan Puckett scored three runs in game two.
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- The first six Tornado batters reached in the first inning as a Turner double gave King an early 2-0 lead.
- Turner scored on a Miller double before Kylee Wolfe drove in Miller with a single.
- Helms capped the seven-run inning with a two-run single to center field.
- On the defensive side, Nikole Counts worked around an error in the first inning to keep the Yellow Jackets off the scoreboard.
- Counts stranded one runner in each of the next two innings before working a 1-2-3 fourth inning.
- King extended their lead to 9-0 on a Thompson two-run single that score Miller and Haylee Dye in the fourth inning.
- Shian Meeks got the Yellow Jackets on the board in the fifth inning with a double that scored a pair, cutting the King lead to 9-2.
- However, the Tornado ended the game in the bottom of the inning as Camryn Haag started the frame with a double.
- Brianna Harbin pinch-ran for Haag and later scored on a fielder's choice, giving King the 10-2 victory.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Nikole Counts (4-1) 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Emily Moore (0-1) 0.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- West Virginia State struck first in the nightcap, plating a pair of runs in the first inning.
- Madison Rafuson and Kasey Murphy each drove in runs in the frame, giving the Yellow Jackets a 2-0 lead.
- King responded in the bottom of the inning as Turner ripped a double that scored Erin Foster, cutting the deficit in half.
- Turner then scored on a dropped fly ball to even the score.
- The Tornado then broke the game open with eight runs in the third as they brought 12 batters to the plate.
- The first five Tornado reached base and scored, starting with Puckett who singled.
- Turner and Miller then ripped back-to-back run-scoring doubles.
- Turner gave King a 10-2 lead with another double that scored Puckett and Foster.
- Lindsey Phares cut into the deficit for West Virginia State with a three-run home run in the fourth, but the Tornado still led 10-5.
- Turner struck again in the fifth with a double that scored Puckett and Marleigh Duncan, extending the King lead to 12-5.
- That was all Duncan need as she finished the final two innings to earn her first career win.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Marleigh Duncan (1-0) 3.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Kasey Murphy (1-3) 3.0 IP, 8 H, 10 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Phares drove in three and Meeks drove in two to lead the Yellow Jacket offense.
- Danielle Lebsock and Phares posted three hits apiece.
UP NEXT
- King returns to the diamond on Friday at Emmanuel College. First pitch from Franklin Springs, Ga. is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
- West Virginia State takes the field again on Sunday at UVA Wise.
