Duncan, S.C. — King University's postseason run came to an abrupt end Friday afternoon as the Tornado fell 10–3 to Chowan University in the Conference Carolinas Tournament at Tyger River Park. Despite a mid-game surge that briefly tied the contest, a decisive seven-run sixth inning by the Hawks sealed King's exit from championship contention.
The loss ends King's season at 31–26 overall and 16–12 in league play, while Chowan advances at 31–19, 17–11 Conference Carolinas.
A Tight Battle Early
Chowan struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on a pair of defensive miscues by King.
- Hope Soria drove in the game's opening run with a single up the middle.
- Moments later, a wild pitch allowed another run to score, giving the Hawks a 2–0 advantage.
Chowan added a third run in the fourth when Ava Mizell delivered an RBI single down the right-field line, extending the lead to 3–0.
King's Fifth-Inning Rally
The Tornado refused to go quietly.
In the top of the fifth, King broke through with a three-run rally to even the score:
Momentum briefly shifted toward King, but the tie would not last long.
Chowan's Explosive Sixth Inning
The Hawks responded immediately — and emphatically.
Chowan erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth, turning a deadlocked game into a runaway victory. Key moments included:
- A two-run double by Ava Mizell, who finished with three RBIs.
- An RBI bunt single from Kaitlyn Springle.
- A two-run single up the middle by Kyra Helton.
- A fielder's-choice RBI and a throwing error that allowed another run to score.
By the time the inning ended, Chowan had built a commanding 10–3 lead that King could not overcome.
Tornado Highlights
Despite the loss, several King players delivered strong performances:
- Katie Ryan led the offense with two hits, a run scored, and a stolen base.
- Imari Golden added two hits, including a triple, and scored once.
- Sheets drove in two of King's three runs.
- Giana Winge reached base twice and helped spark the fifth-inning rally.
In the circle, Kaylee Meeks (15–8) battled through 5.1 innings but was tagged with the loss after allowing nine runs — seven earned — on 11 hits. Sophia Waters recorded the final two outs.
Chowan's Standouts
The Hawks' offense was relentless, producing 13 hits:
- Ava Mizell: 2-for-4, 3 RBIs, double
- Kyra Helton: 2 RBIs
- Kaitlyn Springle: 2-for-3, RBI
- Makenzi Curry: 2 hits and a run scored
Abby Rutledge earned the win in relief, tossing three scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
Season Comes to a Close
King's 2026 campaign featured standout performances, a strong conference record, and a competitive showing in the postseason. But on Friday, costly errors and Chowan's late offensive surge proved too much to overcome.
The Tornado now turn their attention to the offseason, returning a core group of contributors while looking to build on a 31-win season.
