BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University softball team swept a doubleheader from regional rival and 2021 NCAA Tournament qualifier, Tusculum University on Tuesday. The Tornado took game one 7-5 behind a pair of big innings before winning a pitcher's duel in the nightcap, 2-1.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 7, Tusculum 5; King 2, Tusculum 1
LOCATION: King Softball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 15-7; Tusculum 13-10
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Erin Foster posted three hits on the day, including a pair of doubles and drove in two in game one.
- Rikkelle Miller went 3-for-3 and drove in two in game one and posted a hit and a walk in game two.
- Haylee Dye also drove in a pair in game one.
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- Carly Turner started a two-out rally with a double to right center in the first inning.
- She then scored on a Milelr double, giving King the 1-0 lead.
- The advantage was short-lived, however, as Tusculum scored four runs in the second inning.
- Kaylee Higgins had the big hit of the frame, a two-run double to left field as the Pioneers took a 4-1 lead.
- The King offense responded in the bottom of the inning with six runs.
- Foster drove in the first two with a single up the middle before a Dye double scored two more.
- Dye later scored on a groundout, giving King a 7-4 lead.
- Tusculum cut into the deficit in the third inning with one run on a Kallyn Newport single, but the Tornado still held a 7-5 advantage.
- Both teams threatened in the fourth and fifth innings but couldn't push across any more runs.
- Following a leadoff single in the sixth, Marleigh Duncan entered the contest in the circle for the Tornado.
- She retired all six batters she faced, including three strikeouts to give King the 7-5 win and earn her second save of the year.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Nikole Counts (6-3) 5.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Losing Pitcher: Ireland Cavanaugh (5-3) 2.0 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Save: Marleigh Duncan (2) 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- Tusculum grabbed the lead in the first inning following a leadoff single and Tornado defensive miscue.
- Foster tried to get the Tornado offense going in the third with a one-out double, but she was left there.
- Turner and Miller started the fourth inning with consecutive singles before a Tinsley Thompson walk loaded the bases.
- Lauren Lawson came up with a sacrifice fly to even the score at 1-1.
- Foster sparked the King offense with a one-out double in the fifth inning.
- After a pair of walks loaded the bases, Chelsea Sams worked a walk pushing across a run to give King the 2-1 lead.
- That was all Duncan need as she only allowed one more baserunner of the final two innings and retired the Pioneers in order in the seventh inning to give King the 2-1 win.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Marleigh Duncan (6-3) 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Emily Sappington (0-1) 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 10 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Hayley Lazo scored a pair on two hits in game one while Higgins drove in a pair.
- Claire Smeltzer, Newport and Kiley Longmire accounted for two hits each in game one.
- Pitcher Emily Sappington led the Pioneers with two hits in the nightcap.
UP NEXT
- King is next scheduled to host Frostburg State University on Saturday. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.
- Tusculum hosts Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday afternoon.
