YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The King University softball team split their Conference Carolinas doubleheader on Saturday, winning 14-4 over Young Harris in game one before narrowly falling 8-7 in the second game.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 14, Young Harris 4, Young Harris 8, King 7
LOCATION: YHC Softball Field; Young Harris, Ga.
RECORDS: King 20-18, 7-5 Conference Carolinas; Young Harris 22-16, 9-5 Conference Carolinas
KING HIGHLIGHTS
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- After Katie Ryan led off the game with a double to left field, she scored when Dye dropped down a bunt that was misplayed by the pitcher, putting King in front 1-0.
- The Mountain Lions loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but Savana Luper induced a ground ball to third base to end the inning with no runs having scored.
- Suits doubled the Tornado lead with one swing of the bat in the third, hitting a one-out solo home run to right center field, putting King ahead 2-0.
- Young Harris again loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Luper again got out of the inning, this time with a flyout to center field.
- The Tornado added six runs in the fourth, as Lilly Million drew a bases loaded walk, scoring Jardim.
- Suits then doubled, allowing Katie Ryan to score before a single by Tinsley Thompson drove in a pair, stretching the lead to 7-0.
- Bradlie Warner later singled, allowing Thompson to score and making it an 8-0 King lead.
- The Mountain Lions scored twice in the bottom of the inning to pull to within 8-2.
- In the sixth, Thompson hit a one-out single, advancing to second on a passed ball before scoring when Aviah Bunsic doubled.
- After a Young Harris pitching change, T. Ryan hit a two-run home run, stretching the lead to 11-2.
- The Mountain Lions scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to extend the game, but King responded with three in the top of the seventh, including a solo home run from Dye.
- The Tornado were able to hold the Mountain Lions off the board in the bottom, winning 14-4.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Savana Luper (8-7) 5.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 6 BB, 2 SO
Losing Pitcher: Kylie Ferguson (3-6) 3.1 IP, 6 h, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- Young Harris took a lead in the second, scoring three runs.
- Jardim hit her home run in the third to cut the lead to 3-1.
- In the bottom of the inning, the Mountain Lions scored four runs, taking a 7-1 lead.
- The Tornado loaded the bases in the fifth, before Dye recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice, followed by a Million single to make it 7-3.
- The next batter was Suits, who hit a three-run home run down the left field line, closing the lead to 7-6.
- After Young Harris left a runner on base in the bottom of the fifth, King tied the game in the sixth, with all of their hits coming with two outs.
- Warner hit a single through the left side, advancing to third on a Jardim single.
- Autumn Campbell entered as a pinch runner, stealing second and advancing on a throwing error, with Warner scoring the game tying run.
- After the Young Harris leadoff batter reached base on an error, she scored the game-winning run after a wild pitch, giving the Mountain Lions an 8-7 win.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Emma Black (6-3) 2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Losing Pitcher: Marleigh Duncan (6-5) 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Grace Young had a double and a home run in the first game, with three RBI before going 1-for-3 in game two.
- Addie Heal, Morgan Johnson and Sammi Martin all ha two RBI in game two.
UP NEXT
- King will play at Lees-McRae Tuesday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
- Young Harris will play at Erskine Tuesday.
