UNC Pembroke Eliminates King to Advance to Saturday at 2022 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship
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WILSON, N.C. – An offensive surge in the middle innings allowed second-seeded UNC Pembroke to eliminate sixth-seeded King from the 2022 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship at Historic Fleming Stadium.
The Braves will now have to wait and see who will be their opponent in their 11 a.m. game on Saturday. The opponent depends on if four or five teams are remaining in the championship.
UNC Pembroke started the game by plating two runs in the top of the first inning off the bat of Bobby Dixon. The two-run home run by Dixon allowed Gage Hammonds to score as well. Hammonds had walked to get on base one batter earlier.
The two-run lead would not last long with King scoring four in the bottom of the second to take its only lead of the contest. In capturing the four runs, King had nine batters in the frame and collected six hits.
The Braves would go back ahead for good in the top of the third inning with three runs. The three runs in the third inning would be part of an offensive surge that saw UNC Pembroke score nine runs in its next four at-bats. The Braves scored two runs each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
In finishing with 16 hits, UNC Pembroke had three players collect three or more hits in the contest with Dixon going 4-for-5 with an impressive six RBIs to go along with two runs scored. He belted two home runs in the game. Hammonds was 3-for-4 with four runs scored. Wellington Guzman was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Branden Kunz got the win for UNC Pembroke on the mound. He pitched the first 5.2 innings, striking out four. Rhett James pitched the final 3.1 innings to earn the save.
One of our pitchers used on the day by King, Ray Berry suffered the loss on the hill for the Tornado. He gave up seven hits and seven runs in his 4.0 innings pitched.
Truman Roper and Chase Hilliard led King with three hits each. Roper was 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Hilliard was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
The Braves out-hit King, 16-13.
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: #4 Mount Olive def. #3 Belmont Abbey, 6-5 (
Box Score)
Game 4: #8 Barton def. #2 UNC Pembroke, 6-5 (
Box Score)
Game 5: #1 North Greenville def. #6 King, 8-3 (
Box Score)
Second Round - Friday, May 6
Game 6: #2 UNC Pembroke def. #6 King, 11-7 (
Box Score)
Game 7: #1 North Greenville vs. #3 Belmont Abbey, 3 p.m.
Game 8: #4 Mount Olive vs. #8 Barton, 7 p.m.
If four teams remain after Game 8
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 7
Game 9: #2 UNC Pembroke 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: #2 UNC Pembroke 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.