FLORENCE, S.C. – The King University softball team hit four home runs on the day, but fell in both games of their Conference Carolinas doubleheader to Francis Marion University.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Francis Marion 7, King 5; Francis Marion 9, King 8
LOCATION: UNCP Softball Field
RECORDS: King 18-10, 2-2, 0-0 Conference Carolinas; Francis Marion 17-12, 3-3 Conference Carolinas
KING HIGHLIGHTS
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- The Tornado drew first blood, scoring a pair of runs in the second inning.
- The scoring started after Miller led off with a single, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt and scoring when Haag ripped a double into center field.
- Lilly Million would pick up an RBI a short time later, singling through the right side to allow Haag to score and put King up 2-0.
- Day started the fourth with a one-out single, advancing to third when Haag singled off the right-center field wall. She would then proceed to steal second.
- Million picked up a pair of RBI when the took the fourth pitch of the at-bat and hit a single into right-center field to clear the bases and give King a 4-0 lead,
- Helms would also pick up an RBI, as she laced a single into right0center field to score Chelsea Sams and make it 5-0.
- In the bottom of the fourth, the Patriots would score six times to take a 6-5 lead. They would add a solo home run in the fifth to lead 7-5.
- After going down in order in the sixth, Carly Turner drew a two-out walk in the seventh but King was unable to score, falling 7-5 in game one.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Janecia Hemingway (5-7) 3.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Nikole Counts (8-4) 4.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- Helms reached base in the top of the first after being hit by the 14th pitch of her at-bat, scoring when Miller hit a home run to center field to put King ahead 2-0.
- Erin Foster reached base in the top of the third on a hit-by-pitch, setting up Helms to hit a home run down the left field line, stretching the lead to 4-0.
- Turner would also hit a home run, taking the fourth pitch of her at-bat and placing it over the center field fence, making the score 5-0.
- The Patriots scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth on a home run of their own.
- In the top of the fifth, Miller would hit a one-out double down the left field line, setting up Day to hit a home run to left field, extending King's lead to 7-3.
- King would add an insurance run in the seventh, as Haag picked up an RBI single up the middle to score Tori Ryan.
- The bottom of the seventh is where Francis Marion did their damage, scoring six runs on four hits to walk-off the Tornado 9-8.
OF RECORD
- Winning Pitcher: Janecia Hemingway (6-7) 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
- Losing Pitcher: Marleigh Duncan (6-5) 6.1 IP, 6 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Janecia Hemingway picked up both wins for the Patriots, throwing a total of 8.2 innings, allowing seven hits and recording six strikeouts.
- Savana Rosson had two home runs on the day, hitting one in each game. Ashtyn Patterson also had a home run in game one.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado get a week off before facing North Greenville March 26 in a road matchup.
- Francis Marion will get the first crack at North Greenville, facing them Friday afternoon before taking on Southern Wesleyan.
