Banner Elk, N.C. — The King University Softball team earned a pair of Conference Carolinas wins on the road against Lees-McRae, taking game one 10-6 before completing the sweep with a 16-9 victory in game two. The Tornado offense was dominant all day, combining for 26 runs on 38 hits across the doubleheader.
Game One:
King wasted no time getting on the board in the opening inning.
Giana Winge delivered a two-RBI single to left field, scoring
Savana Luper and
Katie Ryan to give the Tornado an early 2-0 lead.
Lees-McRae responded in the second inning with a solo home run and a two-RBI double to take a 3-2 lead, but King answered right back in the third inning.
Ella Richey tied the game with an RBI single to center field, making it 3-3.
The Tornado regained control in the fifth inning behind
Carlie Sheets, who blasted a two-run home run to center field to give King a 5-3 advantage. Later in the inning,
Aviah Bunsic added an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-3.
King broke the game open in the sixth inning with their biggest offensive surge.
Ella Richey came through in a major way, launching a grand slam to left field that scored
Alena Demakas,
Giana Winge, and
Olesia Walch, pushing the lead to 10-3.
Lees-McRae attempted a late comeback in the seventh inning, scoring three runs, but the Tornado held on to secure the 10-6 victory.
In the circle,
Kylee Horsley got the start, pitching 1.2 innings.
Kaylee Meeks earned the win in relief, throwing 5.1 innings while allowing just three runs and striking out two.
Batting:
Giana Winge led the Tornado with four hits, three runs, and two RBIs.
Ella Richey had a standout performance with three hits, including a grand slam, and five RBIs.
Carlie Sheets added three hits and a two-run home run.
Savana Luper and
Aviah Bunsic each recorded two hits, with
Aviah Bunsic driving in a run.
Game Two:
King once again struck early, getting on the board in the first inning when
Carlie Sheets doubled to right center to score
Giana Winge. The Tornado continued their momentum in the second inning, adding three runs behind RBI singles from
Katie Ryan and
Savana Luper to take a 4-0 lead.
Lees-McRae answered with a four-run second inning to even the score, but King quickly regained control in the third. RBI singles from
Aviah Bunsic,
Yuleesa Kennedy, and
Katie Ryan pushed the Tornado back in front 7-4.
After both teams traded runs, King extended their lead in the fifth inning with an RBI single from
Grace Shary, making it 8-5. Lees-McRae stayed within reach, but the Tornado put the game away in the sixth inning with a massive offensive outburst.
King scored seven runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-RBI single from
Aviah Bunsic, a two-RBI hit from
Staley Vaught, another RBI from
Grace Shary, and a two-run home run from
Katie Ryan. The Bobcats added two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but King answered in the seventh with a solo home run from
Imari Golden to cap off the scoring at 16-9.
Riley Lamb earned the win in the circle, throwing five innings.
Sophia Waters came in for relief, tossing the final two innings to secure the victory.
Batting:
Katie Ryan led the offense with three hits, four RBIs, and a home run.
Aviah Bunsic had a strong performance with two hits and three RBIs.
Grace Shary and
Staley Vaught each recorded three hits and two RBIs.
Ella Richey added three hits, while
Imari Golden contributed two hits, including a home run.
Yuleesa Kennedy also tallied two hits and an RBI.
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Up Next: King are back at home on Saturday, April 18, with the first game starting at 1:00 p.m. against Shorter in a Conference Carolinas matchup. The doubleheader will also serve as Senior Day, as the Tornado honor their graduating student-athletes.
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