BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University softball team dropped a pair of nonconference contests on Tuesday, falling to 14th-ranked Lincoln Memorial University. The Railsplitters took game one 3-1 thanks to a three-run fifth inning. The Tornado tallied six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning of game two but came up short, losing 7-6.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Lincoln Memorial 3, King 1; Lincoln Memorial 7, King 6
LOCATION: King Softball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 3-3; Lincoln Memorial 11-0
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Chelsea Sams went 2-for-5 at the plate with one double. Her double came in the bottom of the fourth inning of game two and sparked a six-run inning for the Tornado.
- Samantha Helms also picked up a pair of hits on the day. In game one, she ripped a double to left center and picked up an RBI as Carolyn Haag scored King's lone run of the game.
- Haag picked up an RBI in game two when she doubled to bring home Haylee Dye.
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- Lincoln Memorial loaded the bases in the first inning, but Nikole Counts retired the side without giving up any runs.
- King left two stranded in the bottom of the first to seal a scoreless first inning.
- The Railsplitters loaded the bases again in the top of the fourth inning but were not able to capitalize as Counts was able to get out of another jam.
- Lincoln Memorial made the most of a Tornado throwing error in the top of the fifth inning as Sierra Hucklebee came home to take the first run of the game.
- The next at bat, Audrey Petoskey smashed a two-run home run over the center field wall to extend the lead to 3-0.
- King turned right around in the bottom of the fifth and scored their only run of the game via a double from Helms that brought in Haag.
- The remainder of the game was scoreless, giving the Railsplitters a 3-1 victory in the day's opening contest.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: McKenna Falwell (1-1) 4.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO
Losing Pitcher: Nikole Counts (2-1) 7.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO
Save: Bailey Griffith (2) 2.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- Both teams left a runner stranded in the first inning to begin game two.
- Lincoln Memorial had two on base in the top of the third inning before a double to right field by Emma Webb brought home the first two runs of the game.
- Two batters later, Petoskey hit her second home run of the day when she ripped a three-run home run over the left field wall .
- Hucklebee ripped a double in the top of the fourth inning to bring home Ty-Kella Goins.
- Petoskey tallied brought in her sixth run of the day after grounding out to first with the bases loaded, putting the Railsplitters ahead 7-0.
- King got their bats going in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sams doubled down the left field line to bring home a run and put the Tornado on the scoreboard.
- Kylee Wolfe followed by singling up the middle and bringing Sams home.
- The Tornado ran through their entire lineup in the bottom half of the fourth, bringing eleven batters to the plate in route to six different Tornado driving in a run.
- King was unable to keep the momentum rolling as Lincoln Memorial's Emma Frost retired nine consecutive batters in the final three innings to pick up the 7-6 win in game two.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Emma Frost (4-0) 3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO
Losing Pitcher: Carly Turner (1-2) 2.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 3 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Hucklebee led the Railsplitters in hits, going 3-for-8 on the day. A pair of her hits came in game two as she laced two doubles to center field.
- Petoskey picked up just two hits in six at bats but both of her hits were home runs as she finished the day with six runs batted in.
- Goins scored twice on the day and collected one hit.
UP NEXT
- King is scheduled to host Lander University on March 4 at 1:00 p.m.
- Lincoln Memorial is scheduled to take on Lees-McRae College on Sunday.
