Barton and King Advance to Double Elimination Portion of 2022 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship
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WILSON, N.C. – The double-elimination portion of the 2022 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship is set after the first two games of the championship on Wednesday, May 4.
Due to the threat of inclement weather later in the afternoon in the area both single-elimination games were played simultaneously at different facilities in Wilson, North Carolina.
Sixth-seeded King (24-20) picked up a 9-4 win over seventh-seeded Francis Marion (29-19) in a game played at Nixon Field on the campus of Barton. Eighth-seeded Barton (25-24) erased an early 2-1 deficit to fifth-seeded Erskine (28-22) by scoring four runs in the top of the second inning to take the lead. They then never looked back in a 21-2 victory at Historic Fleming Stadium.
The Tornado advanced with the victory in the single-elimination portion of the bracket to face off against regular-season champion and top-seeded North Greenville at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 5. With its win in the single-elimination round, Barton advanced to face off against second-seeded UNC Pembroke at 3 p.m. on Thursday.
King took an early 2-0 lead through the first two innings, but Francis Marion plated a combined four runs in the top of the third and fourth innings to take the lead at 4-2. The game changed completely though in the bottom of the fourth with a three-run home run by Hilliard giving the Tornado back the lead at 5-4.
The long ball continued to help King expand on its lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with a Robbie Scott two-run home run giving the Tornado a 7-4 advantage. A couple of batters later, Preston Steele homered down the left field line to make it 8-4. The final run for either team came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Davis Hall doubled in Truman Roper for King.
King out-hit Francis Marion, 13-8, in the game. Four different King players had multiple hits with Hall leading the way with a 3-for-5 performance that included an RBI and a run scored. Will Hardee led Francis Marion with three hits, two RBIs and one run scored.
First team all-conference pitcher Drew Moore (8-3) was strong in his seven innings on the mound for King. Moore struck out five and allowed just two earned runs.
Barton scored three or more runs in a single inning in five of its nine at-bats as a team in the win over Erskine. The Bulldogs had seven players record multiple hits in the game. Carelle Gonzalez was one of five Bulldogs in the game with three hits. He led the team in RBIs (five) and runs scored (five). Gonzalez belted a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning.
Barton matched its run total with its number of hits in the game (21). Barton out-hit the Flying Fleet, 21-8. Both Cal Bocchino and Gregory Sanders finished with two hits to lead Erskine in its loss.
Alex Hart (9-3) was phenomenal on the mound from the start for Barton. The first team all-conference performer struck out six in his 6.1 innings on the hill. He allowed just eight hits and two earned runs. Tyler Blackburn pitched the final 2.2 innings for Barton. He did not allow a hit or a run in his time on the mound.
Information regarding the 2022 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship schedule, bracket and Historic Fleming Stadium, home of the tournament host Wilson Tobs Baseball Club, are available
here.
2022 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship
Historic Fleming Stadium | Wilson, N.C.
Play-in Round – Wednesday, May 4
Game 1: #6 King def. #7 Francis Marion, 9-4 (
Box Score)
Game 2: #8 Barton def. #5 Erskine, 21-2 (
Box Score)
First Round - Thursday, May 5
Game 3: #3 Belmont Abbey vs. #4 Mount Olive, 11 a.m.
Game 4: #2 UNC Pembroke vs. #8 Barton, 3 p.m.
Game 5: #1 North Greenville vs. #6 King, 7 p.m.
Second Round - Friday, May 6
Game 6: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 4, 11 a.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 3, 3 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 7 p.m.
If four teams remain after Game 8
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 7
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 11 a.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 9 vs. Loser Game 10, 7 p.m.
Championship - Sunday, May 8
Game 12: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 11, 1 p.m.
Game 13: Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 12, 4 p.m. (If Necessary)
If five teams remain after Game 8 and two after Game 11
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 7
Game 9: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 7, 11 a.m.
Game 10: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 3 p.m.
Game 11: Winner Game 10 vs. Winner Game 8, 7 p.m.