TIGERVILLE, S.C. – The King University softball team opened conference play at North Greenville University on Friday afternoon. The Tornado took the first game 11-2 in fiving innings before winning 9-7 in extras in the second game.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 11 – North Greenville 2 (5 innings) | King 9 – North Greenville 7 (8 innings)
LOCATION: Jan McDonald Field; Tigerville, S.C.
RECORD: King 13-9, 2-0 CC | North Greenville 16-11, 3-3 CC
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
- King scored five runs on seven hits in the top of the third inning. Alyssa Suits doubled to right center before she was able to score on an NGU error. Bradlie Warner got on base with a bunt. Jessica Campbell and Alena Demakas hit back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out. Tori Ryan followed with her own single to drive home Warner and Campebll before Rachel Jardim's single allowed Demakas to score. Ryan was able to score on a Bunsic single.
- Katie Ryan opened the fourth inning with a home run. Jessica Campbell scored later in the inning to put King up 7-0.
- North Greenville scored their only two runs in the game in the bottom of the fourth as Blackwell singled to left field, driving in two runs.
- King scored four more runs in the top of the fifth. Both K. Ryan and Suits were able to score on a Warner single to left field with two outs. Warner later scored with J. Campbell as T. Ryan hit another single. The Tornado would hold the Trailblazers scoreless in the bottom of the fifth and win 11-2.
KING HIGHLIGHTS – GAME ONE
- King totaled 14 hits, led by Bradlie Warner and Jessica Campbell with three hits each. The two combined for 6-6 from the plate and scored five runs. Warner had 2 RBI while Campbell drew a walk.
- Tori Ryan had half of King's RBIs with 5 on her two hits.
- Katie Ryan had a home run while Alyssa Suits and Warner each had a double.
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
- North Greenville got on the board first in the bottom of the opening inning. The Tornado responded with three runs in the third inning. Autumn Campbell pinch ran for Carlie Sheets after Sheets drew a walk. Campbell and K. Ryan scored on a J. Campbell double to left field. Campbell then scored on a T. Ryan sacrifice fly to center field.
- The Trailblazers closed the gap scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth.
- Jardim's double allowed T. Ryan and J. Campbell to score in the top of the fifth before Aviah Bunsic doubled to drive Jardim home putting King up 6-2.
- With a run in the fifth, North Greenville came within three runs. The Trailblazers then scored three runs on four hits in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings.
- In the top of the eighth, Suits began as the runner on second and was able to score as Bunsic opened the inning with a single to right field. J. Campbell hit a single to right field and then was able to advance to second and then advance to third on an error by the Trailblazers. Giana Winge scored on the single and K. Ryan scored on the error putting King up 9-6.
- NGU was able to get a run across in the bottom of the 8th, but King held on for a 9-7 win.
KING HIGHLIGHTS – GAME TWO
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher
Savana Luper – King (4-3) 4.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Sophia Waters – King (5-1) 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO
Losing Pitcher
Kylie Rast – North Greenville (5-1) 2.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO
Karley Green – North Greenville (7-4) 8.0 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 4 SO
UP NEXT
The Tornado will be back home next week as they start a multi-game home-stand with a doubleheader against Lees-McRae on March 18
th. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 2 p.m.
