FLORENCE, S.C. – The King University baseball team won a wild 13-11 game Saturday afternoon over Francis Marion University to close the regular season with two straight wins. Derek martin delivered the go-ahead single in the top of the 12th for the Tornado.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 13, Francis Marion 11 (12 innings)
LOCATION: Sparrow Stadium; Florence, S.C.
RECORDS: King 23-20, 16-13 Conference Carolinas; Francis Marion 29-18, 16-14 Conference Carolinas
KING HIGHLIGHTS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After King left runners on base in the first and second innings, the Patriots jumped on the board in the bottom of the second, scoring a pair of runs to take the 2-0 lead.
- Steele led off the fourth with a double to left field, advancing to third on a flyout by Deric Graham.
- Steele would score on a throwing error by the second baseman to make the score 2-1 Patriots.
- The fifth inning was good for the Tornado, as they scored eight runs on five hits to take a 9-2 lead.
- Helms picked up a pair of RBI with a sharp single into left center field.
- The Tornado then loaded the bases, where Graham picked up an RBI the hard way, getting hit by a pitch before Andrews hit a sacrifice fly to bring in another run.
- Cody Hutcherson also picked up an RBI, singling up the middle to score Steele.
- After Davis Hall drew a bases loaded walk, Jarrett Backus singled to left center field to score a pair of runs, making the score 9-2.
- The Tornado added a run in the seventh when Steele singled to bring Scott home and give King a 10-5 lead.
- The Tornado scored again in the eighth to go up 11-6, but the Patriots would score five runs over their final two innings to send the game to extras.
- In the 12th inning, King pulled ahead, with Derek Martin hitting an RBI single to right center field to put King up 12-11.
- The 13th run of the game came a short time later, when Andrews singled to right field, allowing Garret Huffman to score and give the Tornado a 13-11 lead.
- Bodhi Baker came on in the bottom of the frame and threw a clean inning to earn the save and give King a 13-11 victory.
FOR THE FOES
- Todd Mattox went 3-for-7, with two RBI and a home run.
- Naphis Llanos, Tanner Wakefield, Lex Tutten and Daulton Dabbs all had doubles.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Christian Walzak (1-1) 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Losing Pitcher: Will Hardee (0-1) 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 SO
Save: Bodhi Baker (1) 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
UP NEXT
- Both the Tornado and the Patriots will turn their eyes to the Conference Carolinas tournament, set to begin Wednesday in Wilson, N.C. Information regarding the bracket and schedule will be released this weekend by Conference Carolinas.
