Bristol, Tenn. — King University closed out its 2026 regular season on Saturday afternoon with one of its grittiest offensive performances of the year, but a powerful Francis Marion lineup proved too much as the Tornado fell 12–9 at home. The loss completed a three-game sweep for the Patriots, who improved to 40–10, while King finished the regular season at 13–36.
Despite the outcome, the Tornado showcased resilience, timely hitting, and late-inning fight — traits that have defined their young roster throughout the spring.
A Fast Start and a Fierce Counterpunch
Francis Marion struck first with a run in the opening inning, but King responded immediately and emphatically.
Senior catcher Kenny Hirschfeld ignited the home crowd with a three-run blast to left, scoring Kale Richardson and Justin Smith to give King a 3–1 lead.
The Tornado added another run in the second when Christopher Rosario ripped a triple into the right-center gap, scoring Jacob Eargle and pushing the advantage to 4–2.
But the Patriots' offense — one of the most potent in the Southeast — answered with a decisive fourth inning. After an RBI single from Adrian Nina cut the lead to one, Ethan McAnally delivered the game's turning point: a towering grand slam that flipped the score to 7–4.
King's Sixth-Inning Surge Keeps It Close
Down 8–4 in the sixth, King mounted one of its best rallies of the afternoon.
For a moment, the Tornado had all the momentum — but Francis Marion's lineup refused to cool off.
Patriots Pull Away Late
The Patriots responded with three runs in the seventh, highlighted by Nina's two-run triple and a sacrifice fly from Myles Proffitt. An eighth-inning bunt RBI from Nina, paired with a throwing error, extended the lead to 12–7.
King continued to fight to the final out. In the ninth, Hirschfeld delivered again, smashing a two-run double to center to bring home Logan Janney and Jose Ruiz, cutting the margin to 12–9. But closer Cole Gursky shut the door to earn the save.
Standout Performances
King University
- Kenny Hirschfeld: 2-for-5, HR, double, 5 RBI
- Christopher Rosario: 2-for-3, triple, RBI, run
- Misael Garcia: 2-for-4, run
- Jose Ruiz: 1-for-5, double, RBI, run
- Kale Richardson: triple, run
Francis Marion
- Adrian Nina: 3-for-4, triple, 4 RBI, 2 runs
- Ethan McAnally: grand slam, 4 RBI
- Riley Orr: 3-for-5, triple, RBI
- Charlie Bussey III: reached base four times, 3 runs
On the Mound
King starter Gavin True (0–4) battled through 3.2 innings but was tagged for seven runs.
Relievers Colin Goldsmith, Dylan Willis, and Kade Pomeroy combined to stabilize the game, allowing just two earned runs over the final five innings.
Francis Marion's Mason Huffstickler (3–1) earned the win, while Gursky secured his first save.
Looking Ahead
While the Tornado were unable to secure a win in the final series, the regular-season finale showcased the team's offensive potential and competitive spirit. With multiple underclassmen contributing in key moments and veterans like Hirschfeld closing strong, King enters postseason play with momentum at the plate and valuable experience gained from battling one of the region's top programs.
