BANNER ELK, N.C.- The King University softball finished the regular season with a sweep over Lees-McRae. The first game was a dominate performance by the Tornado as they won in five innings by a score of 23-3 before taking the second game 8-4.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 23 – Lees-McRae 3 (5 Innings) | King 8 – Lees-McRae 4
LOCATION: Bobcat Field; Banner Elk, N.C.
RECORDS: King 28-22, 15-9 CC | Lees-McRae 9-35, 3-19 CC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE

• King started hot, scoring 5 runs on 4 hits in the field inning. This included Katie Ryan scoring on a double by Rachel Jardim before Aviah Bunsic hit a three-run home run to left center field. Autumn Campbell hit a RBI single that allowed Staley Vaught to score.
• Tori Ryan scored from second base on a Giana Winge single in the bottom of the second to expand King's lead to 6-0.
• Vaught led off the top of the third with a walk before A. Campbell hit the first pitch over the outfield wall. Jardim then hit a three run home run to put King up 11-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning.
• A solo home run from Lees-McRae got them on the board in the bottom of the third before a two run home run was their final scoring play in the bottom of the fourth.
• The Tornado exploded in the top of the fifth inning scoring 12 runs. Alyssa Suits opened the inning with a double to right field. Both Suits and Walch scored as Winge hit a single and the Bobcats had an error. Bunsic hit a double down the left field line to drive in Winge and Jardim before Bunsic scored on a fielding error. A Bradlie Warner single down the left field line drove in Demakas and Vaught. Back-to-back doubles from K. Ryan and Suits scored two more runs. Suits scored on a T. Ryan ground out to the short stop before Jardim hit her second home run of the game – this one a solo shot. Bunsic scored the final run on a Vaught double to the left side of the field.
• To seal the five inning victory, King executed a ground out before Sophia Waters struck out back to back players.

 
KING HIGHLIGHTS – GAME ONE

• King hit four home runs with Rachel Jardim hitting two, and Aviah Bunsic and Austum Campbell each getting one. The Tornado also had seven doubles – Alyssa Suits (2), Katie Ryan (1), Tori Ryan (1), Jardim (1), Bunsic (1) and Vaught (1).
• Rachel Jardim went 4-of-4  with 4 runs and 5 RBI to lead the King offense.
• Aviah Bunsic went 2-of-5, scoring 3 runs and recording 5 RBIs.
• Alyssa Suits and Staley Vaught each had three hits, three runs, and an RBI.
• Sophia Waters pitched five innings, allowing just 6 hits, three runs, walked 2 batters and struck out 4.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO

• King kept the bats going in the second game, scoring four runs in the first inning. Suits double allowed K. Ryan to score before she scored on a Jardim infield single. Bunsic's double down the left field line allowed T. Ryan to score before Jardim scored on a Shary ground out.
• The Tornado added a run in the top of the second as Suits got on base on a double to the left side of the outfield before T. Ryan's double allowed her to score.
• Giana Winge opened the third inning with a solo home run to right field.
• Lees-McRae scored once in the bottom of the sixth.
• Suits opened the top of the seventh inning with a home run down the left field line. Jardim scored from third base o a Bunsic single to the outfield.
• The Bobcats went the yard for a three-run blast to right center but it was not enough to take down the Tornado.

 
KING HIGHLIGHTS – GAME TWO

• Alyssa Suits and Giana Winge both hit home runs. Suits went 3-4 with three runs, and two RBIs. All three of her hits were extra bases with two doubles and a home run.
• Tori Ryan, Rachel Jardim, and Aviah Bunsic each hit a double and combined for 4 RBIS and three runs.
• Kylee Horsley went three scoreless innings in the circle, allowing just 1 hit, 1 walk, and recorded 1 strike.

 
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher
Sophia Waters – King (7-4) 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Kaylee Meeks – King (4-6) 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
Losing Pitcher
Logan Zephir – Lees-McRae (1-4) 2.2 IP, 12 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 3 BB, 1 SO
Ellie Hale – Lees-McRae (2-12) 2.0 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 4 R, 0 BB, 1 SO
 
UP NEXT
The Tornado will await the release of the Conference Carolinas tournament bracket to find out their opponent next week in Spartanburg.
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