BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University baseball team topped Conference Carolinas foe Barton Saturday afternoon 7-4 to take their series 2-1.
Junior Renwick had a great game, going 3-for-4 at the plate, with a pair of RBI while
Jarrett Backus was 1-for-3, with two runs scored.
THE BASICS: King 7, Barton 4
LOCATION: King Baseball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 18-17, 11-11 Conference Carolinas; Barton 22-20, 12-12 Conference Carolinas
KING HIGHLIGHTS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Tornado struck first, as in the bottom of the second, Jack Flanagan hit a one-out double down the right field line, scoring when Deric Graham stepped to the plate and singled down the line, handing King a 1-0 lead.
- Barton responded quickly, as they picked up an RBI fielder's choice in the top of the third.
- The bottom of the third was a good inning for the Tornado, as they scored four runs, including an RBI single from Renwick, an RBI walk drawn by Graham.
- Chase Hilliard picked up an RBI the hard way, as he was hit by the second pitch of his at-bat, allowing Backus to score.
- Zachary Thomas got in on the RBI parade, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to bring Renwick across the plate, making the score 5-1.
- The Bulldogs started to get close in the top of the fifth, scoring a pair of runs, including a one-out solo home run and an RBI single with two outs to get to within 5-3.
- King's lead tightened again in the seventh, as the Bulldogs pieced together three hits to score a run, making the score 5-4.
- The Tornado got some breathing room in the bottom of the seventh, when the first three batters all reached base, with Renwick ripping an RBI single to right field to score Scott.
- A couple batters later, Graham hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Backus and make it a 7-4 lead for the Tornado.
- That would hold to be the final score, as Baker threw a clean eighth inning, before Blankenship recorded a pair of strikeouts in the ninth to shut the door, earning his fifth save of the season and giving King a 7-4 victory.
FOR THE FOES
- Colby Warren was 3-for-5 at the plate, with an RBI and a run scored.
- Raymond Paniagua was 2-for-4, with one of his hits being the solo home run in the fifth.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Drew Moore (6-2) 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Losing Pitcher: Brett Widerman (2-2) 2.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Save: Nic Blankenship (5) 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will play their final two home games of the season this next week, hosting Tusculum Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. before facing Mars Hill Wednesday afternoon.
- Barton will be back at home next weekend, hosting Mount Olive for a three-game series.
