WILSON, N.C. – In a rematch of the final regular season series, the seventh-seeded King University baseball team came out on top against sixth-seeded Emmanuel College in the opening game of the Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship on Wednesday afternoon.
Drew Moore propelled the Tornado to the 6-1 victory as stuck out a career-best 14 in his fourth complete game of the season.
THE BASICS: No. 7 King 6; No. 6 Emmanuel 1
LOCATION: Fleming Stadium; Wilson, N.C.
RECORDS: King 14-22; Emmanuel 17-24
TIME OF GAME: 2:45
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Jarrett Backus led King with three hits from the leadoff spot. He ripped his second home run of the season on the season, drove in two and scored twice.
- Junior Renwick laced a three-run home run, his fifth round-tripper of the year.
- Along with Renwick, Zachary Thomas and David Carnicella added two hits apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The King offense set the tone for the day in the first inning with a pair of two-out baserunners.
- The runners advanced to second and third, but the Tornado weren't able to convert.
- First team All-Conference Carolinas selection, Moore, then started his day on the mound with a 1-2-3 inning on 10 pitches in the bottom of the first.
- King threatened again in the second, but a double play ended the frame.
- An Emmanuel walk and double put runners on second and third in the second inning.
- However, Moore got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
- Carnicella started the third inning with a single before Backus ripped a home run to right field, giving King the 2-0 lead.
- McCann followed with a double and later scored on a passed ball to extend the King lead to 3-0.
- Moore followed by striking out the side in the bottom of the inning.
- The Lions looked to get on the board in the fourth inning following a single to right field, but Thomas threw out the runner at the plate to keep King ahead 3-0.
- Back-to-back singles from Carnicella and Backus started the Tornado half of the fifth inning.
- Following an out, Renwick crushed a home run to center field, extending the Tornado lead to 6-0.
- Moore then retired the Lions in order in the bottom of the inning.
- In each the sixth and seventh innings, Moore recorded a pair of strikeouts, setting his career-high with his 11th punch out in the seventh. The junior ended the game with 14 strikeouts.
- The Lions got on the board in the ninth inning, but that was all Moore allowed as he closed out his fourth complete game of the season on 125 pitches.
FOR THE FOES
- Royce Peterson and Dustin Frost led Emmanuel with two hits each while Khalib Bayona drove in the Lions' lone run.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Drew Moore (6-1) 9.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 14 SO
Losing Pitcher: Eric Moore (2-4) 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
UP NEXT
- King advances to take on top seed and fifth-ranked University of Mount Olive on Thursday. First pitch from Wilson, N.C. is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
