Box Score BURLINGTON, N.C. – The King University softball team started the Conference Carolinas Tournament right where they left off the regular season, scoring runs. The fifth seeded Tornado fell behind fourth seeded Erskine College, and the score was tied before the King offense erupted for seven runs in the fourth inning and 10 more in the fifth to take the contest 21-5.
Hannah Smith got King (18-25) on the board with a two-run home run in the first inning before Erskine (19-22) came right back and evened the score on a two-run single from Karen Hawkins. The Flying Fleet then grabbed a 3-2 lead on a Jill Sprague single.
However, King answered with a Chrissy Melcher two-run home run in the second to regain the advantage at 4-3. Erskine added one in the third inning, evening the score at 4-4 after three innings before the Tornado offense exploded.
King plated seven runs in the fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Stephanie Rodriguez that scored both Diamond Callwood and Hannah Smith, giving the Tornado an 11-4 lead. Morgan Lowe made quick work of the bottom of the fourth inning to bring the Tornado back to the plate and Melcher started the fifth with a leadoff single.
Amber Walker drove in the first run before Callwood registered a two-run single to right center. Rodriguez, Cole and Melcher then all registered run scoring hits for King before Amanda Sports dealt the big blow, a three-run home run to left field. In total, King scored 10 runs on eight hits to take a 21-4 advantage.
Erskine plated one on a home run in the fifth, but Lowe closed out the game to move King into the winner's bracket.
Melcher paced the offense from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-3 with three runs batted in a four runs scored. Sports and Smith both drove in four while registering two hits each while Callwood and Rodriguez both accounted for two hits each. Rodriguez drove in three while Callwood scored twice and drove in two. Lowe earned the victory in the circle, tossing all five innings and allowing one run on five hits.
King will be in action again at 5:00 p.m. when they take on the winner of top seeded Limestone College and eight seed Barton College.
