DUNCAN, S.C. – The top seeded King University softball team narrowly escaped with a win in the first Conference Carolinas Softball Championship game. The Tornado used a five run fifth to take a 6-1 lead over ninth seeded North Greenville University but had to turn an unorthodox double play with the tying run at third to take the 6-5 victory.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: No. 1 King 6, No. 9 North Greenville 5
LOCATION: Tyger River Park; Duncan, S.C.
RECORDS: King 38-15; North Greenville 21-29
TIME OF GAME: 2:01
KING HIGHLIGHTS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- North Greenville grabbed the lead in the third on a Brianna McRae home run to right center field.
- King responded in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles from Peyton Day and Tinsley Thompson.
- Foster then ripped a double to center, scoring Day with no outs.
- However, the Crusaders came back with three straight outs to keep the game even at one after three.
- King then scored five runs on four hits in the fifth inning. Foster drove in one with a triple and Rikkelle Miller followed with a run-scoring single.
- Dye drove in two with a double before Lauren Lawson gave King a 6-1 lead with a run-scoring single.
- North Greenville started the seventh with back-to-back singles before Claire Gilmore ripped a home run to left center.
- A double followed by an out and an error put two runners on.
- Another Tornado miscue allowed the fifth run for North Greenville to score and put runners on the corners with one out.
- The Crusaders then attempted to bunt, but missed the but attempt.
- King catcher, Miller, then threw down the third to get one out, and Lawson threw to second to get the runner trying to advance, ending the game and giving King the 6-5 win.
FOR THE FOES
- McRae posted two hits, including the home run.
- Madison Pride and Gilmore added two hits apiece, including Gilmore's three-run home run.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Carly Turner (13-1) 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO
Losing Pitcher: Bailey Page (10-14) 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO
Save: Nikole Counts (2) 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB 0 SO
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- King has extended their school-record winning streak to 12 games.
UP NEXT
- The Tornado take on fifth seeded Francis Marion University on Friday at 12:00 p.m.
- North Greenville takes on third seed Barton College at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.
