MURFREESBORO, N.C. – The King University baseball team scored five runs in the top of the fifth to cruise to an 8-4 win over Chowan University Friday afternoon.
Zachary Thomas went 2-for-3 on the day, with a pair of extra base hits.
THE BASICS: King 8, Chowan 4
LOCATION: Hawkins Field; Murfreesboro, N.C.
RECORDS: King 19-19, 12-12 Conference Carolinas; Chowan 8-28, 3-22 Conference Carolinas
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Thomas hit a solo home run in the top of the third, while also hitting a double and scoring three runs.
- Robbie Scott went 2-for-4, with a double, two RBI and a run scored.
- Ray Berry got the start for the Tornado, throwing six innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts to pick up the win.
- Christian Walzak threw two shutout innings in relief, while Nic Blankenship threw a scoreless ninth.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- It was the Hawks who started the scoring, as they picked up an RBI single in the first to take an early lead.
- That lead evaporated in the third, when Thomas took the first pitch of the inning and hit his second home run of the season, clearing the left field fence to tie the game.
- Truman Roper then drew a walk, advancing to third when Davis Hall doubled. That set Scott up for an RBI sacrifice fly, giving King a 2-1 lead.
- The Hawks would tie the game in the bottom of the inning on a single down the left field line that brought in the tying run.
- After going down in order in the fourth, the Tornado poured on the runs in the fifth, scoring five runs on four hits, including RBI doubles from Scott and Junior Renwick, who drove in a pair.
- Preston Steele added an RBI single, while the Tornado got another run on a double steal to take a 7-2 lead.
- Chowan wouldn't go quietly, as they hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 7-4.
- Thomas led off the sixth with a double, eventually scoring when Hall hit a sacrifice fly to center field to give King some breathing room.
- Chowan had a scoring chance in the eighth, but left the bases loaded.
- In the ninth, the Hawks again threatened, but Blankenship was able to work out of a jam, stranding a pair of runners and giving King the 8-4 win.
FOR THE FOES
- Emmanuel Betancourt was the offensive star of the day, going 3-for-5, with a home run and four RBI.
- Tyler West was 2-for-3, with three runs scored.
- Caleb Peterson came on in the eighth and threw two scoreless innings.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Ray Berry (5-3) 6.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Nicky Wohleking (1-6) 4.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
UP NEXT
- The Tornado and Hawks will play a doubleheader Saturday, with the first game starting at 12 p.m.
