Hickory, N.C. – The King (Tenn.) Baseball Team (16-29) downed Lenoir-Rhyne (29-17), 8-7, in 12 innings Tuesday evening in a non-conference, regional affair at Bears Field.

The Tornado broke a seven-all tie in the top of the 12th inning when Josh Stephens (Eureka, Mo.) drove in Joe Ganger (Jonesborough, Tenn.) with the game-winning, run-scoring single as King avenged an earlier loss to Lenoir-Rhyne.

Lenoir-Rhyne built a 7-5 advantage after five innings of play but couldn't hold the lead as King scored single runs in the seventh and ninth frames, respectively, to force extra innings.  Zak Kitzmiller (Bristol, Va.) had an RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning for the Tornado.

Lenoir-Rhyne scored five runs in the third inning thanks to a two-run triple from senior first baseman Colby Dishmond (Statesville, N.C.) and a two-run home run from senior shortstop Matthew De La Rosa (Austin, Texas) despite the loss.  The home run was De La Rosa's team-leading 10th home run of the year.

Dylan Sligh (Lynchburg, Va.) and Ryan Whitt (Brentwood, Tenn.) also hit home runs for King, who finished with 20 hits in the contest.  Sligh also had three hits, two runs scored and two runs batted in.

King's Grant Boyd (Chesterfield, Va.) pitched four scoreless innings with four strikeouts to pick up the win and improve to 3-3 on the year.  Lenoir-Rhyne freshman Brett Fulk (East Bend, N.C.) fell to 2-1 after taking the loss.

Lenoir-Rhyne hosts Winston-Salem State on Wednesday night at Bears Field beginning at 6:00 p.m.  King takes on Southern Wesleyan in Central, S.C., in a Conference Carolinas game on Friday at 6:00 p.m.