GASTONIA, N.C. — King University baseball saw its 2026 season come to a close on Friday morning, falling 11–6 to UNC Pembroke in an elimination game at the Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship. The Tornado (14–38) fought back from multiple early deficits, produced 10 hits, and launched a key home run from senior Tommy Regan, but the Braves (33–17) used a fast start and late insurance runs to advance.
The matchup featured big swings, momentum shifts, and a determined King lineup that refused to go quietly in its final game of the year.
First Inning: Braves Strike First
UNC Pembroke opened the scoring with a three-run first inning:
- Jackson Crute doubled down the right-field line to score Landon Lucas
- Mason Mozeley followed with a two-run single to right
The early burst put King in a 3–0 hole before the Tornado offense responded.
Second Inning Surge Brings King Back
King answered immediately with a three-run second inning to tie the game.
The Tornado dugout erupted as King erased the early deficit.
Braves Counter With Three More
UNC Pembroke responded with another three-run inning in the bottom half:
- Crute doubled again, driving in two
- Mozeley added an RBI groundout
The Braves regained a 6–3 lead, and extended it to 8–3 in the third on a two-run double from Daniel Stephens.
King Keeps Fighting: Regan Goes Deep
The Tornado continued to battle.
In the fourth, Justin Smith grounded out to short to score Ruiz, trimming the deficit to 8–4.
Then in the fifth, senior first baseman Tommy Regan delivered one of the biggest swings of King's postseason:
Regan launched a two-run homer to left-center, scoring Kale Richardson and pulling King within 8–6.
The blast gave the Tornado new life and brought the tying run to the plate later in the inning.
Pitching Holds the Line Through the Middle Innings
After a difficult start, King's bullpen steadied the game:
Haynes' outing was one of the bright spots of the afternoon, giving King a chance to rally.
Eighth Inning Push Seals It for UNC Pembroke
The Braves added three insurance runs in the eighth:
- Tyler Steele singled home a run
- A fielding error allowed two more to score
The late surge extended the lead to 11–6, and King was unable to mount another comeback in the ninth.
Offensive Leaders – King University
King totaled 10 hits, with five players recording multi-hit or multi-RBI performances.
Pitching Notes – Tornado
- Gavin True (L, 0–6): 1.1 IP, 6 ER
- Goldsmith: 1.2 IP, 2 ER
- Haynes: 3.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
- Willis, Pomeroy, Webster: combined for the final 2.0 innings
Haynes' strong relief outing kept King competitive deep into the game.
A Season of Fight, Growth, and Resilience
Though the loss ends King's postseason run, the Tornado showed:
- A relentless offense that scored 16 runs in two tournament games
- Breakout performances from young players
- Veteran leadership from Smith, Regan, Hirschfeld, and Richardson
- A team that continued to compete until the final out of the season
King closes the year with momentum, experience, and a foundation to build on heading into 2027.
