CENTRAL, S.C. — King University baseball opened its Conference Carolinas series with a doubleheader split on Friday, using a fast start and timely power to take Game One 11–8 before falling 13–10 in a wild Game Two. The Tornado move to 4–8 (1–2 CC) on the season, while Southern Wesleyan sits at 4–9 (2–1 CC) after the first day of the series.
GAME ONE: King 11, Southern Wesleyan 8
Tornado Set the Tone Early
King wasted no time jumping on the Warriors, plating four runs in the first inning. Kale Richardson launched a three-run homer to center, and Jose Ruiz added an RBI single to cap the frame. Logan Janney added a solo shot in the second, and later crushed a two-run homer in the fourth to extend the lead to 7–2.
Offensive Firepower and Timely Hits
The Tornado racked up 14 hits, including three home runs and two doubles. Tommy Regan added a solo homer in the sixth, and King tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth to hold off a late Southern Wesleyan rally.
Pitching Staff Holds On
Ben Hale earned his first win of the season, tossing 5.1 innings with eight strikeouts. Jonathan Webster closed the door in the ninth to secure the win.
Game One Offensive Highlights
- Kale Richardson: 3-for-3, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 1 BB
- Logan Janney: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
- Tommy Regan: 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Jose Ruiz: 3-for-4, RBI, R
- King totaled 14 hits and 11 runs, their second-highest scoring output of the season
GAME TWO: Southern Wesleyan 13, King 10
Warriors Capitalize on Errors in Big Fourth
Southern Wesleyan flipped the script in Game Two, scoring eight runs in the fourth inning—six of them unearned—thanks to a series of King miscues and timely hits. The Warriors took advantage of five King errors in the game to build a 13–3 lead.
Tornado Rally Falls Just Short
King mounted a furious comeback in the sixth, scoring seven runs. Tommy Regan ripped a two-run double, and Kenny Hirschfeld followed with a grand slam to cut the deficit to 13–9. Adrian Vidal added an RBI single to make it 13–10, but the Tornado couldn't complete the rally.
Game Two Offensive Highlights
A Day of Power and Pressure
Across the doubleheader, King showcased:
- Four home runs and five extra-base hits
- A season-high 21 runs scored on 22 hits
- Resilience in late innings with a combined 9 runs in the final three frames of both games
- Strong contributions from the middle of the order and a deep bullpen effort
Up Next:
The Tornado wrap up the conference series on Saturday, February 21, with the rubber match at Southern Wesleyan. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. in Central, S.C.
