Rome, Ga. – The King University baseball team opened its three-game Conference Carolinas series at Shorter University on Friday in a matchup defined by momentum swings, power hitting, and late-inning drama. King erupted for six runs in the fourth and added three more in the seventh, but Shorter's steady scoring across the middle and late innings lifted the Hawks to a narrow 10–9 win in game one.
Game Summary
After a quiet first inning, Shorter struck first in the second on a groundout that plated Isaiah Sims for a 1–0 lead.
King responded with its biggest inning of the day in the fourth.
Logan Janney delivered the swing of the game — a towering grand slam to left, scoring Jose Ruiz, Adrian Vidal, and Kenny Hirschfeld. Moments later, Tommy Regan singled home two more, bringing in Misael Garcia and Justin Smith to cap a six-run frame and put King ahead 6–1.
Shorter answered quickly. A two-run homer in the fifth cut the lead to 6–3, and the Hawks continued to chip away in the sixth with a sacrifice fly and a solo home run, pulling within 6–5.
King rebuilt its cushion in the seventh.
Jacob Eargle singled home Vidal, and Janney struck again — this time with a two-run double to score Ruiz and Eargle, extending the Tornado advantage to 9–5.
But Shorter countered with a surge of its own in the bottom half. Back-to-back home runs — a solo shot followed by a two-run blast — brought the Hawks within 9–8.
Shorter completed the comeback in the eighth. Wilmer Henriquez tied the game with his second home run of the afternoon, and a sacrifice fly later in the inning pushed the Hawks ahead 10–9, a lead they held through the ninth.
King Highlights
- Logan Janney powered the offense with a 3-hit, 6-RBI performance, including a grand slam and a two-run double.
- Tommy Regan added two hits and two RBIs.
- Jacob Eargle delivered two hits off the bench, including an RBI single.
- King totaled 11 hits and drew six walks, producing multiple high-leverage scoring opportunities.
- The Tornado posted six runs in the fourth and three in the seventh, showcasing strong offensive bursts.
On the Mound
King used a full staff approach, turning to six pitchers throughout the contest. The Tornado arms combined for seven strikeouts while navigating Shorter's power-heavy lineup.
(Per your request, no losing pitcher is listed.)
Up Next
The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader in Rome, where King will look to even the weekend set and build on its strong offensive showing from game one.
