CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The King University softball team came back from a pair of early deficits on Wednesday against North Greenville University.
Jessica Campbell hit a grand slam in game one to give King a lead before taking the contest 8-4. The Tornado took the nightcap 9-4 behind a stellar pitching performance from
Madison Walter.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 8, North Greenville 4; King 9, North Greenville 4
LOCATION: King Softball Field, Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 22-17, 9-3 Conference Carolinas; North Greenville 18-20, 6-8 Conference Carolinas
KING HIGHLIGHTS
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- A two-out, two-run double from Ali Hartin gave North Greenville a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
- Turner followed with a two-out single that scored Lauren Lawson to cut the King deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the first inning.
- The Crusaders extended their lead to 4-1 with a pair of runs in the fourth, the second coming on a two-out triple from Madison Pride.
- King loaded the bases on a pair of walks and an error in the fourth inning before Campbell ripped a home run to right field, giving King a 5-4 lead.
- The Crusaders put two runners on in the fifth inning, but Walter ended up striking out the side to keep the Tornado ahead.
- King added three insurance runs in the sixth, the final two on a two-out single from Lawson, giving King an 8-4 lead.
- Walter then retired the side in order in the seventh, earning her second save and giving King the 8-4 win.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Carly Turner (1-2) 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Karley Green (10-11) 5.2 IP, 8 H, 8 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO
Save: Madison Walter (2) 3.0 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- North Greenville took a 1-0 lead following a single, stolen base and double in the top of the first.
- The Tornado responded in the bottom of the first as Campbell started the frame with a single and was sacrificed to second and scored on a throwing error.
- Tinsley Thompson then drove in two with a single to center field before Million made it a 5-1 Tornado lead with a home run down the left field line.
- King extended the lead to 8-1 on a pair of RBI singles from Deel and Million as well as a Turner sacrifice fly in the second inning.
- The Crusaders added an unearned run in the third before Karley Green hit a home run in the fifth to pull North Greenville within 8-3.
- Million added an insurance run in the fifth, giving King a 9-3 lead.
- Following a leadoff double in the seventh, North Greenville added a run on a groundout before Walter got the final out to give King the 9-4 win.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Madison Walter (7-4) 7.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
Losing Pitcher: Maddie Gore (5-4) 0.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Jenna Davis led North Greenville with four hits while Green and Hartin each drove in two runs.
UP NEXT
- King is in action again on Tuesday at UVA Wise. First pitch from Wise, Va. is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
- North Greenville returns to the field on April 14 against Erskine College.
