BRISTOL, Tenn. – The bats came alive for the King University baseball team Tuesday afternoon, as they had 11 hits en route to a 10-3 win over Emory & Henry. The win is the fifth of the season for the Tornado, who are 5-0 for the first time since moving to NCAA Division II.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 10, Emory & Henry 3
LOCATION: King Baseball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 5-0; Emory & Henry 4-4
KING HIGHLIGHTS
- Derek Martin went 2-for-3, with three RBI on the afternoon.
- Rohde Kirkland picked up his first career win for the Tornado, throwing one shutout inning in relief, with a pair of strikeouts.
- Junior Renwick was 2-for-4, with two runs scored and an RBI while Garret Huffman also went 2-for-4, with a run scored and a walk, as well as a stolen base.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The third inning is where the Tornado offense got started, with Huffman drawing a leadoff walk and advancing to third on a throwing error.
- He didn't have to wait long to score, as Ethan Hawkins doubled to left field, putting King ahead 1-0.
- After a flyout, the Tornado got back-to-back RBI hits, with Davis Hall doubling to right center field and Renwick singling into left field.
- The Tornado would add another run on a wild pitch before Martin singled down the left field line, bringing home another run and making the score 5-0.
- King increased their lead in the fifth, as Renwick drew a leadoff walk, advancing to second on a wild pitch. He scored when Preston Steele doubled to right center field, making the score 6-0.
- Martin then stepped up to the plate and ripped the third pitch of the at-bat over the left field fence, extending the lead to 8-0.
- The Wasps cut into the lead in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs on three hits, including a two-RBI double from Lane Gay, but Michael Cordova was able to induce a flyout, a fielder's choice and a strikeout to shut down the scoring threat.
- The Tornado added a pair in the bottom of the inning, as Renwick reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop, which allowed Roper and Hawkins to score, stretching the lead to 10-3.
- Emory & Henry had a threat in the eighth, as they had runners on the corners and one out before Cordova induced a ground ball double play to end the inning.
- Jake Lathrop came on in the ninth, and despite allowing a pair of baserunners was able to shut down the Wasps offense.
FOR THE FOES
- Lane Gay had a pair of RBI for the Wasps, going 2-for-4 while also scoring a run.
- Other Wasps to record multiple hits were Jared Foley, Wayne Mize and Cole Cunningham.
- John McCarthy got tagged with his first loss of the season after throwing two-thirds of an inning, allowing five earned runs.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Rohde Kirkland (1-0)
Losing Pitcher: John McCarthy (0-1)
UP NEXT
- The Tornado will have a quick turnaround, as they host UVA Wise at 2 p.m. tomorrow
- Emory & Henry opens South Atlantic Conference play this weekend at Carson-Newman.
