BELMONT, N.C. – The King University baseball team dropped both games of their Conference Carolinas doubleheader Friday afternoon at Belmont Abbey.
Michael Starrs had a pair of home runs to set the new program single-season record for home runs.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey 3, King 2; Belmont Abbey 7, King 1
LOCATION: Abbey Yard; Belmont, N.C.
RECORDS: King 14-34, 8-21 Conference Carolinas; Belmont Abbey 33-14, 20-9 Conference Carolinas
SERIES HIGHLIGHTS
- Starrs had a pair of home runs, and now he holds the King single-season home run record, passing Levi Medford, who set it Wednesday against Bluefield State.
- Truman Roper also had a solo home run in the eighth inning of game one.
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- Belmont Abbey scored on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the first.
- In the fourth, Starrs stepped up to the plate and hit his first home run of the day, a solo home run to left field to tie the score at one.
- The Crusaders then scored a pair of runs in the fifth, taking a 3-1 advantage.
- In the eighth, Roper hit his home run, another solo shot to left field to bring the Tornado to within 3-2.
- After Ben Hale set the Crusaders down in order in the eighth, King was unable to tie the game, falling 3-2.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Spencer Cipro (9-3) 7.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Ben Hale (4-3) 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Save: Thomas Paxton (7) 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- It was the Tornado who started the scoring in game two, as Starrs hit his second home run of the day in the top of the first, giving the Tornado a 1-0 lead.
- The Crusaders left a runner on base in the bottom of the first, before scoring in each of the next four innings, taking a 7-1 lead.
- In the sixth, the first two batters reached base for King, thanks to a leadoff single by Joe Uribe and a single from Conner Hyatt that advanced Uribe to third.
- After a strikeout looking, the Crusaders were able to turn a double play to escape the inning.
- King was able to load the bases in the seventh, but were unable to score, falling 7-1 to close the day.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Ethan Wilson (6-0) 5.0 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO
Losing Pitcher: Tanner Hunley (2-4) 5.0 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Todd Velotta had a pair of doubled, along with Caleb Burr, who had both of his in the first game.
- Connor Powell and Connor Tucker also had stolen bases for the Crusaders.
UP NEXT
- King will close the regular season tomorrow with the final game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
