BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University softball team picked up a nonconference sweep over Tusculum University on Thursday afternoon, winning a pair of one-run games.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 3, Tusculum 2; King 6, Tusculum 5
LOCATION: King Softball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS King 10-5; Tusculum 9-10
KING HIGHLIGHTS
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
- Tusculum started the scoring in the top of the first, hitting a two-run home run to go ahead early.
- The Tornado responded in the bottom of the inning, when Jessica Campbell led off with a single then stole second base.
- Alyssa Suits picked up an RBI single, cutting the Pioneers lead in half, 2-1.
- King scored a pair in the fifth, with Aviah Bunsic leading off with a infield single before a throwing error put two on with one out, setting up Campbell for a two-RBI double to left center field, giving King a 3-2 lead.
- The Pioneers loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but King got a ground ball to end the inning.
- In the seventh, Tusculum got a one-out single, but two strikeouts ended the game, with King winning 3-2.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Savana Luper (3-1) 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO
Losing Pitcher: Emily Sappington (3-3) 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 12 SO
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
- After the Pioneers again scored in the top of the first, King responded in the second, when Suits led off with a double, advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring when Megan Dobrev jacked a home run to left field, putting King in front 2-1.
- Tusculum hit a leadoff home run in the fourth to tie the score at two, stranding three runners on base at the end of the frame.
- The Pioneers took a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth, but in the bottom Dobrev hit her second home run of the game, a solo shot that tied the score at three.
- The Tornado continued their scoring, with Campbell, Tinsley Thompson and Haylee Dye getting RBI singles, putting King in front 6-3 heading to the seventh.
- Tusculum made things close, hitting a pair of solo home runs in the seventh before a ground ball ended the game.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Marleigh Duncan (3-2) 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
Losing Pitcher: Ireland Cavanaugh (2-4) 5.2 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO
FOR THE FOES
- Ellie Alvarez, Maddie McBride and Sammy Jimenez all had home runs in the second game for Tusculum, with Gabi Nicholson adding one in the first game of the day.
- Danielle Jason went 4-for-6 on the day.
UP NEXT
- King will host Limestone University on Saturday afternoon in a nonconference doubleheader. Game one is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start at the King Softball Field.
- Tusculum will play at UNC Pembroke on Friday afternoon.
