BELMONT, N.C. –
Michael Starrs hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth Saturday as the King University baseball team dropped the final game of their Conference Carolinas series to Belmont Abbey. With the home run, Starrs now holds the program record for home runs in a season.
THE BASICS:
FINAL SCORE: Belmont Abbey 18, King 8
LOCATION: Abbey Yard; Belmont, N.C.
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Levi Medford, who set the home run record earlier this week, hit a home run to tie Starrs at the top of the record list before Starrs hit his home run in the ninth to take the lead.
- Medford was the lone Tornado to have multiple hits, finishing 2-for-5 on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crusaders opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs to take an early lead.
- In the second, Medford hit his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot to right center field to bring the Tornado to within 2-1.
- The Crusaders went on to score eight runs over the next two innings before King scored a pair in the fifth.
- The inning started with Josh Nuno reaching base on an error, after which Conner Hyatt walked while Jose Ruiz advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt.
- Patrick Corley then hit a sacrifice fly to right center, allowing Nuno to score.
- After a Truman Roper walk, Jacob Eargle hit an RBI single to right field, making the score 10-3.
- Belmont Abbey then scored six runs over the next two innings before King added a run in the seventh on an RBI double by Roper that allowed Ruiz to score.
- The Tornado struck again in the ninth, as Starrs hit his home run, a three-run home run to left field to set the program single-season record for home runs in a season.
FOR THE FOES
- Belmont Abbey had five doubles on the day, all of which came from five different players.
- Todd Velotta had three RBI on the day to lead the Crusaders.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Drew Stegura (7-3) 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Corbin Dickenson (2-8) 2.0 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 7 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will now wait to see if they earn a bid into the Conference Carolinas tournament. The conference office will announce seeding information later tonight at the conclusion of all scheduled games.
