Box Score BRISTOL, Tenn. – In a contest that was somewhat similar to last week's game, the King University baseball team fell in another tight contest with Carson-Newman University. The lead changed hands numerous times in the middle innings before the Tornado gained a 9-5 advantage. However, the Eagles scored six runs over the final three innings to take the comeback 11-9 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Carson-Newman 11, King 9
LOCATION: King Baseball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 14-27; Carson-Newman25-16
TIME OF GAME: 3:04
King Starting Lineup
1. Preston Douglas – RF
2. Mark Hencken – DH
3. Ryan Whitt – LF
4. Ryan Sattz – 1B
5. Austin Dayton – 3B
6. Tyler Bailey – 2B
7. Josh Stephens – CF
8. Moises Soto – C
9. Joe Ganger – SS
Starting Pitcher: RHP Mark Michael
Carson-Newman Starting Lineup
1. Ryan Addington– CF
2. Ian Pung – RF
3. Brandon Roberts – 3B
4. Cade Snapp – DH
5. Paul Kirby – 1B
6. Jimmy Rice – SS
7. Zach Gentry – C
8. Brendan Campbell – LF
9. Trevor Lee – 2B
Starting Pitcher: RHP Grant Rabbitts
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Whitt led the offense, going 3-for-5, driving in on run and scoring another.
- Douglas and Bailey both recorded two hits for the Tornado with Douglas scoring twice.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Carson-Newman was the first team to strike as Campbell ripped a triple off the fence in right field in the third inning. He then scored on a squeeze bunt from Lee, putting the Eagles on top.
- The Tornado answered in the bottom of the inning as Ganger was hit by a pitch to start the frame and Douglas followed with a double.
- Hencken the rolled a single up the middle, scoring two, putting King on top. Whitt followed with a single that scored Hencken who advanced to third on an error to put the Tornado ahead 3-1.
- The Eagles evened the tally with a pair of runs in a Rice double in the top of the fourth, scoring Roberts and Snapp who both singled earlier in the inning.
- Bailey then started the next inning with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He then scored on a failed pickoff attempt that was thrown into center field, giving King a 4-3 lead.
- Carson-Newman took a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth inning when the scored two runs, both coming on wild pitches.
- In the bottom of the inning, Dayton evened the score for the Tornado with a single to center that scored Douglas. King then took the lead on a fielder's choice as the Eagles tried to turn a double play with the bases loaded. Whitt scored on the hit and Hencken scored on a throwing error, giving King a 7-5 advantage after five.
- Soto started a King rally in the sixth with a leadoff single before being sacrificed to second on a play the Eagles made an error allowing Ganger to reach.
- The runners moved up in a wild pitch before Douglas drove in one with a sacrifice fly.
- King took a 9-5 lead when the Hencken tried to steal second and the Eagle threw him out, but allowed Ganger to score.
- However, Carson-Newman answered in the seventh and eighth innings, scoring three runs in each frame. Roberts highlighted the seventh inning with a two-run double before Graham Warren ripped a pinch-hit double, scoring one to pull Carson-Newman within 9-8.
- In the eighth inning, the Tornado looked to turn a double play and get out of a jam, but the throw was mishandled at second base, allowing one run to score.
- Roberts then drove in one with an infield single and the Eagles scored their final run, taking an 11-9 lead on another defensive miscue from the Tornado.
- King threatened with a pair of runners in the eighth, but could push any runs across in either of the final two innings, falling 11-9.
FOR THE FOES
- Addington went 3-for-5 and scored three times to pace the Eagle lineup.
- Roberts also added three hits, going 3-for-4, driving in three runs and scoring twice.
- Rice drove in pair and Eric Lynch scored twice coming off the bench.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Ryan Victory (1-0) 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Save: Raunel Perez (2) 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Losing Pitcher: Grant Boyd (2-2) 1.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
UP NEXT
- King is in action again on Friday when they host Pfeiffer University in game one of their Conference Carolinas series. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. The three game series concludes with a doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Saturday is also Senior Day for the Tornado.
- Carson-Newman hosts Catawba College in a South Atlantic Conference series on Friday and Saturday.
