BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University softball team improved to 21-11 overall and 8-0 in conference play after defeating Converse University in both games of Wednesday's doubleheader.
THE BASICS
FINAL: King 5 – Converse 4 | King 8 – Converse 0
LOCATION: King Softball Field; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 21-11, 8-0 CC | Converse 13-19, 5-3 CC
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE
- Converse scored all four of their runs on the day in the first inning of the first game. They scored four runs on four hits and one error.
- In the top of the second inning, Savana Luper threw just three pitches as Converse grounded out to Aviah Bunsic at shortstop, then flew out to Katie Ryan in left field ad Staley Vaught in right field.
- Giana Winge opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a double and later scored as K. Ryan grounded out to the shortstop. Alyssa Suits followed with a solo home run to center field.
- Grace Shary got on base in the bottom of the seventh on an error from Converse. Walch, as a pinch runner, scored during the next play as K. Ryan doubled down the right field line. K. Ryan scored as Suits hit a single up the middle. Tori Ryan ended the game with a single, allowing Suits to score from first base.
KING HIGHLIGHTS – GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO
- The Tornado scored twice in the first inning. K. Ryan drew a lead-off walk before scoring on a Suits triple down the left field line. Suits scored on the next play to put King up 2-0.
- In the second inning, the Tornado added to their lead as Suits hit a double to drive in K. Ryan, who had reached base on a bunt, and Vaught, who had reached on an error, to put the score at 4-0. Suits then stole both third and home to score herself.
- Both teams turned to a defensive battles as there was just five base runners from the top of the third to the middle of the sixth inning.
- Winge singled to right field to open the bottom of the sixth inning before Autumn Campbell came in as a pinch runner. Demakas got hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Bunsic singled to shallow right center field to drive in A. Campbell before stealing second base herself. Vaught drew a walk to load the bases. Shary's single through the left side moved everyone up a base. K. Ryan's sacrifice fly for the inning's first out, but Bunsic scored to end the game in a 8-0 run rule victory.
KING HIGHLIGHTS – GAME TWO
- Alyssa Suits went 3 for 3, with a double and a triple. She had two stolen bases and three RBIs as she scored twice. Over the course of the doubleheader, Suits hit for the cycle.
- Katie Ryan had a hit and a walk in her two at-bats, with two runs and a RBI in her final plate appearance with her walk-off sacrifice fly. Grace Shary had two hits and an RBI.
- Aviah Bunsic had a hit, a run, an RBI, and a stolen base.
- Kylee Horsley pitched a complete six innings allowing just four hits, no runs, striking out 8 Valkyries players, and walking just one.
- After allowing Converse four runs in the first inning of the first game, King allowed just five hits in twelve straight scoreless innings.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher
Sophia Waters – King (6-1) 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
Kylee Horsley – King (6-2) 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 SO
Losing Pitcher
CJ McBride – Converse (4-8) 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO
Madison Davis – Converse (2-2) 1.2 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO
UP NEXT
The King University softball team will hit the road for three conference doubleheaders. They begin with Emmanuel on Friday, March 28 at 2:00 p.m.
