Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 BRISTOL, Tenn. –The King University men's baseball team started their 2015 season off when Brevard College came to town. In a battle where the Tornados came to face the Tornado, the team's split the double header amidst the brutally cold weather.
King (1-1) head coach Blaine Brown gave the nod to Alex Martin for the first game of the 2015 season. Martin sent the Tornados hitters down in order going into the bottom of the first. The Tornado scored the first run of the season quickly after Preston Douglas doubled down the left field line. Ryan Whitt delivered a single, scoring Douglas and giving King their first run of 2015 and a 1-0 lead. In the top of the second, Martin allowed two hits but no harm in the inning as Brevard was still scoreless.
The Tornado registered another run in the bottom of the third when Cody Rogers started the inning off with a single and then proceeded to steal second. Mark Hencken recorded a RBI on a groundout to the shortstop, giving King a 2-0 advantage. Martin would continue to mow down the Tornados lineup in the top of the fourth and fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, Douglas delivered his second double of the game, which would eventually lead to the third run on a RBI from Whitt. Nathan Helke would replace Martin and earn the one inning save after facing five batters.
King outhit Brevard 7-6 while both teams tallied one error apiece. Martin posted six innings pitched, allowing six hits while recording five strikeouts. Douglas went two for four with two doubles and two runs scored. Zac Joyce recorded the loss for the Tornados.
Game two of the day did not go as planned for King even after scoring the first run of the game. Jose Sola got the start for the Tornado quickly getting out of the top of the first, retiring three in order. Douglas tripled to lead the inning off for King but no one was able to get him across and after one inning, the game was scoreless. The first run of game two was scored when Jake Portugal walked, stole second and came in on a Josh Stephens squeeze bunt.
Sola retired the Brevard batters in order once again, this time in the top of the third. In the top of the fourth, the Tornados of Brevard got on the board. Ryan Smith singled and was brought in by Hunter Donaldson's base hit to tie the game up at one. Sola would attempt to get out of the inning but the Brevard lineup would continue to hit getting another run and gaining the lead at 2-1. Nothing would go for either team until Brevard got on the board again in the sixth inning opening the lead to 4-1. The Tornados would get three more in the top of the seventh and win game two of the doubleheader 7-1.
Brevard (1-1) outhit the Tornado 12-4 while King posted one error to Brevard's zero. Kyle Pittman recorded the win for Brevard while Teke Scudder posted the save. Sola was credited with the loss for King.
King will be back in action next on Saturday, February 7 when they travel to Francis Marion for a doubleheader scheduled on Saturday followed by game three of the series on Sunday. First pitch for Friday is scheduled for 12:00 pm.
