BELMONT, N.C. – The King University took the lead early at Belmont Abbey College, but it was short-lived as the Crusaders came back to take the advantage.
Davis Hall and
Chase Hilliard hit home runs in the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough as the Tornado fell 9-6.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey 9, King 6
LOCATION: Abbey Yard; Belmont, N.C.
RECORDS: King 15-29, 5-21 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 34-14, 15-13 Conference Carolinas
TIME OF GAME: 2:52
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Hall posted two hits, both home runs and drove in four.
- Hilliard hit a home run while Junior Renwick and Preston Steele posted two hits each.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Steele started the second inning with a double and scored on a Mason Swartz double to give King a 1-0 lead.
- Belmont Abbey took a 3-1 lead following a two-run double and run scoring single.
- Hall pulled the Tornado within 3-2 with a home run in the third inning.
- Joe Whitaker laced another two-run double in the fourth, extending the Belmont Abbey lead to 5-2.
- Belmont Abbey tacked on four runs in the seventh inning, two on a Whitaker single, giving the Crusaders a 9-2 lead.
- Hilliard started the top of the ninth with a home run before Hall laced a three-run home run.
- However, that was all the Tornado would score as the Crusaders took the contest 9-6.
FOR THE FOES
- Whitaker posted three hits, two doubles and drove in six.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Ethan Wilson (5-2) 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO
Losing Pitcher: Rohde Kirkland (4-3) 4.2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO
UP NEXT
- The series finishes on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m. in Belmont, N.C.
