BRISTOL, Tenn. – King (Tenn.) held the visiting Bobcats to only one run on five hits en route to clinching the doubleheader sweep in the conference opener for both teams this afternoon.
GAME #1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King (Tenn.) – 3; Lees-McRae – 1
LOCATION: King Softball Field – Bristol, Tennessee
RECORDS: King (Tenn.) (4-3/1-0), Lees-McRae (3-10/0-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Julie Gast and Charlsy Traylor both finished 1 for 3 from the plate, with Gast scoring the Bobcats' only run in game one.
- The Tornado opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a run coming off a fielding error by the Bobcats.
- Lees-McRae evened the score in the top of the fourth as Gast singled and later scored on a throwing error by King.
- King broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run.
- The Bobcats were held in check for the final two at-bats, as the Tornado clinched the opening game.
- Traylor was credited with the loss in the circle, giving up two earned runs on five hits in six innings of work.
FOR THE FOES:
- Carly Turner went 2 for 2 from the plate, with two RBIs and a run scored to pace King in game one.
- Nikole Counts gave up only one run on two hits in seven innings of work to earn the victory.
GAME #2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: King (Tenn.) – 8; Lees-McRae – 0 (5 inn.)
LOCATION: King Softball Field – Bristol, Tennessee
RECORDS: King (Tenn.) (5-3/2-0), Lees-McRae (3-11/0-2)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Gast, Sarah Beth Thomas, and Hannah Foster all registered a hit in game two, with Cassidy Coleman earning two walks.
- After a scoreless 2.5 innings, King opened the scoring in the bottom of the third using a double to right-center field, who later scored on a wild pitch.
- Lees-McRae had a scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth with bases loaded, but a final strikeout left three stranded on base.
- The Tornado scored eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on seven hits to clinch the sweep in the conference doubleheader.
- Raygan Rensing was credited with the loss in the circle for the Bobcats, scattering five runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings of work, while Jenna Bullard gave up three runs on three hits in relief.
FOR THE FOES:
- Erin Foster, Meagan Puckett and Chelsea Sams all posted multiple hits to lead King in game two.
- Carly Turner gave up only three hits in the shutout victory for the Tornado.
NOTEWORTHY:
- With the pair of wins, King (Tenn.) earned two points in the "Battle for the Blue Ridge Cup" standings.
UP NEXT:
The Bobcats return to Banner Elk for the first time in 2021 as they host UVA-Wise tomorrow at 1/3 p.m.
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