King splits games on opening day

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The King University softball team opened the season with two games in the Converse Valkyrie Classic. King split the two games against West Virginia Wesleyan University and Lynn University.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King 7 – West Virginia Wesleyan 5 | King 3 – Lynn 10
LOCATION: Tyger River Park; Spartanburg, S.C.
RECORDS: King 1-1 | West Virginia Wesleyan 2-4 | Lynn 5-0
 
KING HIGHLIGHTS – GAME ONE

• Autumn Campbell had two hits and a walk. She scored all three times she reached base.
• Alyssa Suits hit a three-run home run to driving in the winning runs in the top of the seventh.
• Tori Ryan, Rachel Jardim, and Aviah Bunsic each added a hit and a run.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE

• King scored first in the top half of the opening inning. Rachel Jardim doubled to right center allowing Autumn Campbell to score. Aviah Bunsic hit a sacrifice fly to push Tori Ryan home in the next at bat.
• The game was scoreless until Campbell scored on a passed ball in the top of the third.
• West Virginia Wesleyan scored their first run in the bottom of the third on a fielder's choice.
• The Bobcats tacked on another run in the bottom of the 5th inning before tying the game in the bottom of the sixth. WVWU would add two more runs before the sixth inning ended to take a 5-3 lead.
• Campbell scored again in the seventh inning after being walked and stealing second base to get into scoring position.
• Alyssa Suits had a three-run home run before the second out was recorded, giving King the 7-5 lead. The Tornado held WVWU scoreless in the bottom of the seventh winning their season opener.

 
KING HIGHLIGHTS – GAME TWO

• Jessica Campbell had 2 hits and 2 RBI to lead King including a triple in the bottom of the fourth.
• Autumn Campbell drew two walks and scored once.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO

• Lynn scored their first two runs with the first three batters. By the end of the top of the first, Lynn had a 3-0 lead.
• King did score in the bottom of the first inning as Suits walked, allowing A. Campbell to score.
• Lynn scored two more runs in the top of the second before adding three more in the top of the fourth.
• In the bottom of the fourth J. Campbell tripled driving in Bradlie Warner and Shaina Addair who both singled to get on base.
• The final runs of the game were scored in the top of the 6th as Lynn made it 10-3.

 
OF RECORD
WINNING PITCHER:
Game One: Savana Luper - King (1-0) 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO
Game Two: Madi Prickett – Lynn (3-0) 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 8 SO
LOSING PITCHER:
Kelsi Brown - WVWU (0-1) 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO
Kaylee Meeks – King (0-1) 4.0 IP, 9 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO
 
UP NEXT
The King University softball team will host the Big Region Preseason Tournament on February 8 and 9. The Tornado are slated to take on Emory & Henry and UVA Wise on Saturday from Winged Deer Park in Johnson City, Tenn.