BRISTOL, Tenn. – History was made many times over on Saturday at the King University softball field. The Tornado swept the final regular season doubleheader from Emmanuel College, clinching a share of the Conference Carolinas regular season title. The win also extended King's winning streak to a school record 11 games and gave the Tornado a school record 37 wins this season.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 5, Emmanuel 3; King 4, Emmanuel 1
LOCATION: King Softball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 37-15, 18-6 Conference Carolinas; Emmanuel 35-20, 14-10 Conference Carolinas
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Rikkelle Miller and Lauren Lawson powered the Tornado offense as each hit two home runs on the day.
- Miller hit a three-run home run in the first game and a two-run shot in the nightcap.
- Lawson hit solo home runs in each game.
- Carly Turner also drove in one on two hits.
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- Both pitchers were dominant early until a two-out pinch-hit triple from Kyna Cheney gave Emmanuel a 1-0 lead in the third.
- The Lions added another on three straight singles to start the fourth, but King responded with a double play.
- Haylee Dye threw out a run at the plate following a flyout before a pop out ended the inning, keeping the Tornado deficit at 2-0.
- The score remained the same until Turner singled to center in the fifth, scoring Delaney Porter who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.
- Miller then followed with a three-run home run to center field, vaulting King into a 4-2 lead.
- Emmanuel added another run in the sixth, but Turner responded to get a pair of outs and leave two runners on.
- Lawson added an insurance run with a home run to center field in the sixth.
- That was all the Tornado needed as Marleigh Duncan got the final three outs in the seventh, giving King the 5-3 win and earning her fifth save of the season.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Carly Turner (12-1) 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Maddie Edwards (14-8) 6.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO
Save: Marleigh Duncan (5) 2.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- Nikole Counts worked around a one-out walk in the first inning to bring the Tornado to the plate.
- Foster reached on an error to start the game and Miller crushed a home run down the left field line, giving King the early 2-0 lead.
- Emmanuel started the second with back-to-back singles before a groundout scored one, cutting the King lead in half.
- Lawson laced a leadoff home run in the third inning, extending the King lead to 3-1.
- The Lions loaded the bases in the fourth with one out before Miller collected a groundball at third and cut down the run at the plate.
- Counts then got another groundout to end the inning.
- Dye started the fourth with a double and scored on a defensive misplay, giving King a 4-1 lead.
- Emmanuel threatened again with two runners on and no outs in the fifth, but again Counts got out of the inning with three straight outs.
- Following a two-out double in the top of the sixth, Counts retired the final four hitters she faced, giving King the 4-1 win and clinching a share of the conference crown.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Nikole Counts (17-7) 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Losing Pitcher: Dani Fairey (8-7) 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Kya Santiago went 3-for-5 and drove in two to lead Emmanuel.
- Mackensie Hogan and Cheney posted two hits each.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Tornado clinched a share of their second Conference Carolinas regular season title. The previous title came in 2013.
- King broke the school record for wins in a season with 37. The previous record for wins in a season was 36, coming in 2018.
- The Tornado have won 11 straight games, their longest streak in program history.
- The previous longest winning streak was 10 games, three different times, in 2006, 2013 and 2014.
- King will be the top seed in the upcoming Conference Carolinas Tournament. The Tornado have won two Conference Carolinas Tournament crowns, coming in 2012 and 2018.
UP NEXT
- The Conference Carolinas Softball Championship bracket will be release on Monday night. The top-seeded Tornado will play the winner of the eighth seed and ninth seed at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday night.
- The tournament will be held at Tyger River Park in Duncan, S.C.
- For more information, visit the tournament page by clicking here.
