GASTONIA, N.C. – The King University baseball team had three home runs Wednesday evening, but six early runs by Belmont Abbey would be the difference, as the Tornado fell 8-5 in the opening round of the Conference Carolinas tournament.
THE BASICS:
FINAL SCORE: No. 7 Belmont Abbey 8, no. 10 King 3
LOCATION: CaraMont Health Park; Gastonia, N.C.
RECORDS: King 14-32; Belmont Abbey 25-23
KING HIGHLIGHTS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Crusaders got the scoring started in the first, with a two-RBI double before adding four more in the third, including a three-RBI double to stretch it to a 6-0 lead.
- King got runners to the corners in the fourth, but an inning-ending fielder's choice kept them from scoring.
- In the sixth, the Tornado struck for two runs, starting when Andrew Bryant reached base on a dropped third strike.
- King went on to load the bases, setting up Evans for a two-RBI double down the left field line, with Conner Hyatt and Bryant scoring to cut the lead to 7-2.
- The Crusaders responded in the bottom of the seventh, using a double steal to take an 8-2 lead.
- King responded in the eighth, as Hyatt reached base on an error, advancing to second on a walk drawn by Jacob Eargle.
- After both runners moved up a base, Patrick Corley flew out to center field, with Hyatt scoring to make it an 8-3 Belmont Abbey lead.
- The Tornado wasted no time in the ninth, as Roper hit the first pitch he saw for a solo home run, bringing the Tornado to within 8-4. Two batters later, Starrs also hit a solo home run, pulling King even closer, 8-5.
- That would be as close as the Tornado would get, as the Crusaders escaped with the 8-5 win.
FOR THE FOES
- Aengus Adams was 2-for-3, with four RBI. Caleb Burr was 2-for-5, with a pair of RBI for the Crusaders.
- Drew Stegura threw six innings, allowing two earned runs with eight strikeouts.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Drew Stegura (6-3) 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 8 SO
Losing Pitcher: Ray Berry (3-6) 2.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Save: Spencer Cipro (2) 3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 SO
