Bristol, Tenn. — King University baseball opened its Conference Carolinas weekend series on Friday afternoon, battling throughout but ultimately falling 8–3 to a strong UNC Pembroke squad. The Tornado (12–32) collected nine hits and received a two-run blast from Adrian Vidal, but the Braves (27–15) used early offense and a decisive fifth-inning surge to take the series opener at the King Baseball Complex.
The matchup featured timely hitting from UNC Pembroke, several defensive highlights from King, and a competitive middle stretch before the Braves pulled away late.
First Inning Punch Puts Braves Ahead Early
UNC Pembroke wasted no time generating offense in the opening frame.
- Landon Lucas launched a two-run home run to left, scoring Daniel Stephens for a 2–0 lead.
- Moments later, Morgan Padgett singled up the middle to bring home Branton Jernigan, extending the advantage to 3–0.
King starter Ben Hale settled in after the early damage, keeping the Braves off the board for the next three innings.
Tornado Break Through in the Fourth
King cracked the scoreboard in the fourth inning.
With runners on the corners, Justin Smith reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Misael Garcia to cut the deficit to 3–1. The Tornado threatened for more, but UNC Pembroke turned a double play to escape the inning.
Braves Respond With Three in the Fifth
UNC Pembroke regained momentum in the fifth, stringing together key at-bats:
- Mason Mozeley singled to right to score Jernigan
- Peyton Young followed with an RBI single
- Tyler Steele was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, forcing in another run
The three-run frame pushed the Braves' lead to 6–1.
Vidal Delivers a Two-Run Shot
King answered quickly in the bottom half.
Adrian Vidal turned on a 3–2 pitch and sent a two-run homer over the left-field wall, scoring Kale Richardson and bringing the Tornado back within 6–3. The blast was Vidal's first of the season and provided a spark for the home crowd.
Seventh-Inning Insurance Helps UNC Pembroke Pull Away
The Braves added two more in the seventh:
- Mozeley tripled down the right-field line to score Padgett
- Young lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Mozeley
The pair of runs extended the lead to 8–3, where it remained the rest of the afternoon.
Offensive Leaders – King University
King totaled nine hits, including Vidal's home run and three multi-hit performances.
Pitching Notes – Tornado
Pomeroy closed the game with two strong innings, allowing just one hit.
Despite the Loss, Key Positives for King
The Tornado showed:
- Competitive at-bats against one of the league's top pitching staffs
- A strong middle-of-the-order presence with Richardson and Vidal
- Clean defense with three double plays
- Effective late-game pitching from Willis and Pomeroy
King will look to build on those strengths heading into Saturday's doubleheader.
Up Next
King continues the weekend series with a Saturday doubleheader against UNC Pembroke.
- Game 1: Saturday, April 18 – 12:00 p.m. ET
- Game 2: Saturday, April 18 – 3:00 p.m. ET
