GASTONIA, N.C. — Less than 24 hours after an explosive play-in victory, King University baseball returned to CaroMont Health Park on Thursday morning and went toe-to-toe with top-seeded North Greenville, ultimately falling 7–3 in the second round of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship. The Tornado (14–37) struck first, held an early lead, and competed deep into the game before the nationally ranked Crusaders (43–8) used late offense to pull away.
Despite the loss, King showed poise, toughness, and strong execution against one of the premier programs in Division II baseball.
First Inning: Tornado Strike First
King wasted no time putting pressure on the tournament's No. 1 seed.
After Justin Smith reached, Logan Janney and Kale Richardson moved into scoring position.
Kenny Hirschfeld then grounded out to short, bringing home Smith for a 1–0 lead and giving King early momentum.
Third Inning: Regan Delivers Big Swing
The Tornado added on in the third.
With two runners aboard, Tommy Regan ripped a ground-rule double into right-center, scoring Richardson and Janney to extend the lead to 3–0.
Regan's two-run shot capped a strong start for King, who out-hit NGU through the first three innings.
Crusaders Answer Quickly
North Greenville responded in the bottom half:
- Landon Peavy launched a solo home run to left-center
- Thomas Powell added a sacrifice fly to score Mason Swinney
The Crusaders trimmed the lead to 3–2, then tied the game in the fourth on an RBI single from Connor McKee.
Pitching Duel Through the Middle Innings
From the fourth through the sixth, both teams traded zeros.
Rohde Kirkland delivered one of his grittiest outings of the season:
- 6.2 IP, 8 hits, 5 runs (only 2 earned)
- 6 strikeouts, no walks
- Held NGU scoreless for three straight innings
King's defense also turned a double play and made several key plays to keep the game tight.
Seventh Inning Turns the Tide
North Greenville broke the 3–3 tie in the seventh.
A two-run single from CJ Dean scored Skyler Hegler and Swinney, both unearned after a defensive miscue, giving NGU its first lead of the day at 5–3.
Crusaders Add Insurance in the Eighth
NGU added two more in the eighth:
- Peavy singled home Darrien Whitaker
- McKee doubled down the right-field line to score Peavy
The late surge pushed the lead to 7–3, where it remained.
Offensive Leaders – King University
King totaled eight hits, including three multi-hit performances.
Pitching Notes – Tornado
Kirkland's command and competitiveness kept King in the game deep into the afternoon.
Despite the Loss, King Shows Fight Against Top Seed
The Tornado displayed:
- Early offensive execution
- Strong starting pitching
- Competitive at-bats against elite arms
- Resilience after a quick turnaround from Wednesday's win
King remains alive in the tournament and will continue its postseason run in the elimination bracket.
Up Next
King returns to action Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. at CaroMont Health Park, facing the losers of game 4 in an elimination matchup.
