Box Score BURLINGTON, N.C. – In another elimination game in the Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament, seventh seed King University scored early and Hayley Smothers made the run standup for the Tornado against sixth seed Belmont Abbey College. King scored twice in the first inning, and Smothers shutdown the Crusaders, giving King the 2-1 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 2; Belmont Abbey 1
LOCATION: Springwood Park; Burlington, N.C.
RECORDS: King 19-30; Belmont Abbey 20-29
PITCHING HIGHLIGHTS
- Hayley Smothers tossed all seven innings for the Tornado, allowing one run and scattering eight hits.
- For Belmont Abbey it was Laura Williams with the complete game, allowing two runs on eight hits.
OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS
- Hannah Devotie led the Tornado offense, going 2-for-4 with one run scored.
- Amber Walker and Alliyah Sands drove in the runs for King and Olivia Lawson scored the winning run.
- For Belmont Abbey it was Lauren Clifford who went 3-for-3.
- Anna Mixa scored the Crusaders' lone run and Alex Pearsall drove her in.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Devotie didn't waste any time getting the offense going for the Tornado with a leadoff single in the first inning. She then stole second before Lawson singled through the right side to put runners on the corners.
- Following an out and bunt single that loaded the bases, Walker walked to drive in Devotie and give King the run.
- Sands then made it a 2-0 Tornado lead with a sacrifice fly that scored Lawson.
- Belmont Abbey cut into the deficit in the second when Mixa started the inning with a walk and Clifford followed with a double.
- Pearsall followed with a groundout, scoring Mixa to make the score 2-1.
- However, Smothers then got the final two outs for the Tornado to keep King ahead.
- That turned out to be pivotal as neither team was able to score the rest of the way.
- Belmont Abbey threatened in fourth with a pair of runners, but Smothers got out of the jam.
- The Crusaders tried to make a rally in the seventh inning with a leadoff single, but runner attempted to reach second and the Tornado defense threw her out. Belmont Abbey did get a two-out single, but Smothers ended the game, giving King the 2-1 win by getting a pop out.
UP NEXT
- King now faces third seed University in another elimination game. The winner will advance to a semifinal matchup on Saturday.
- Belmont Abbey is eliminate from the Conference Carolinas Softball Tournament.
