GASTONIA, N.C. – The opening day of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship saw King University and Erskine Colletge win their play-in games to advance to the double elimination portion of the bracket.
No. 9 King def. No. 8 Emmanuel, 10-6
Logan Janney gave King the early lead with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. Emmanuel came back in the second with three runs, two on a single from Haidyn McGill go give the Lions the 3-2 lead. The lead went back to the Tornado in the fourth as King scored three runs, two on a Tommy Regan single through the right side. Justin Smith added two runs for King in the fifth inning before Misael Gracia gave King a 10-3 lead with a three-run home run in the sixth. Emmanuel cut into the deficit with a two-run double from Aiden Malish in the sixth and added another in the eighth, but King held on for the 10-7 victory.
King will face top seed North Greenville University at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.
No. 7 Erskine def. No. 10 Southern Wesleyan, 14-1
Southern Wesleyan grabbed the lead with a Cole Kischner run-scoring double. However, Erskine responded with a Mason McManus home run in the bottom of the inning. Erskine took the lead with four runs in the second inning, three on a home run from Carson Yates before Drew Potts followed with a solo home run. Stephen Kriner ripped a three-run home run in the third inning, stretching the Flying Fleet lead to 8-1. The Erskine lead grew to 14-1 when the Flying Fleet scored six runs. The inning was highlighted by two-run doubles from Yates and McManus.
Erskine advances to take on second seed Francs Marion University at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday.
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2026 Conference Carolinas Baseball Championship
CaroMont Health Park | Gastonia, N.C.
Play-in Round – Wednesday, April 29
Game 1: No. 9 King def. No. 8 Emmanuel, 10-6
BOX SCORE
Game 2: No. 7 Erskine def. No. 10 Southern Wesleyan, 14-1
BOX SCORE
First Round - Thursday, April 30
Game 3: No. 1 North Greenville vs. No. 9 King, 11:00 a.m.
Game 4: No. 4 Young Harris vs. No. 5 UNC Pembroke, 1:00 p.m. (at Sims Legion Park)
Game 5: No. 2 Francis Maroin vs. No. 7 Erskine, 3:00 p.m.
Game 6: No. 3 Belmont Abbey vs. No. 6 Mount Olive, 7:00 p.m.
Second Round - Friday, May 1
Game 7: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 11:00 a.m.
Game 8: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 1:00 p.m. (at Sims Legion Park)
Game 9: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 3:00 p.m.
Game 10: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5, 7:00 p.m.
Semifinal Round - Saturday, May 2
Game 11: Winner Game 8 vs. Loser Game 9, 11:00 a.m.
Game 12: Loser Game 10 vs. Winner Game 7, 11:00 a.m. (at Sims Legion Park)
Game 13: Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 3:00 p.m.
Game 14: Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 12, 7:00 p.m.
Championship - Sunday, May 3
Game 15: Winner Game 14 vs. Loser Game 13, 1:00 p.m.
Game 16: Winner Game 13 vs. Winner Game 15, 4:00 p.m.
Championship – Monday, May 6 (If Necessary)
Game 17 – Loser Game 16 vs. Winner Game 15, 1:00 p.m.