Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 PEMBROKE – The 21^st-ranked UNC Pembroke baseball team tacked up 17 runs over its last four at-bats to power past visiting King, 18-5, in the opener of Saturday's Conference Carolinas twinbill at Sammy Cox Field, and then got a gem of a performance from right-hander Jonathon Jacobs to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Tornado with a 7-2 win in the nightcap.
 
The results marked the 20^th and 21^st home wins of the season for the Braves (31-10, 15-7 CC) who crossed the 30-win mark for the 15^th time in the last 18 full seasons under head coach Paul O'Neil. King (12-26, 2-19) has now dropped five-straight contests, and fell to 3-17 in road games this season with Saturday's outcomes as well.
 
Branden Kunz (5-2) scattered six hits and three earned runs across six innings of work to pick up his fifth win of the season in Saturday's early contest, while freshman Kasen McCawley struck out four and surrendered just one run across three innings of relief to notch his first collegiate save.
 
Jacobs (6-2) registered double-digit strikeouts for the second time this season in the late game, and picked up his team-leading sixth win after striking out 11 and not allowing an earned run in six innings from the hill.
 

DOUBLEHEADER SUMMARY
GAME 1 FINAL	UNC Pembroke 18, King 3
PITCHERS	WP: Branden Kunz (5-2) LP: Rohde Kirkland (3-2) Save: Kasen McCawley (1)
GAME 2 FINAL	UNC Pembroke 7, King 2
PITCHERS	WP: Jonathon Jacobs (6-2) LP: Jakob Brown (1-7) Save: None
RECORDS	UNC Pembroke 31-10, 15-7 CC; King 12-26, 2-19 CC

KEY INNINGS (GAME 1)
TOP 4	Chase Hillard and Wes Bonney tacked up consecutive one-out singles to put runners at the corners for the Tornado, Hilliard eventually came around to score on a halfway successful double steal attempt by the visitors. Nick Valentin singled moments later, and then advanced two bases on a pesky passed ball to set the table for Matthew Swigert who pushed King's lead out to 4-1 on a run-scoring single to right field.
BOT 4	UNCP loaded the bases with its first four at-bats in the home half of the fourth, and then exploded for five runs to take the lead for good. Carlos Amezquita hit a bases-loaded RBI single, Spencer Faulkner cashed in on a 2-run double down the left field line, and the Black & Gold knotted the score up on a costly fielding error by the Tornado. A wild pitch in the midst of the next at-bat brought home Faulkner with the go-ahead run.
KEY INNINGS (GAME 2)
BOT 1	Christian Jayne led off the bottom of the first with a double, moved to third on a groundout from Spencer Faulkner, and gave the hosts the lead for good when he scampered home on a RBI single from Ethan Ott.

UNCP LEADERS (GAME 1)	KING LEADERS (GAME 1)
Spencer Faulkner 4-5, BB, 2B, 3B, 7 RBI Kody O'Connor 2-4, BB, 2 2B, RBI Carlos Amezquita 3-5, 3 R Christian Jayne 1-4, 4 R	Wes Bonney 2-4 Ethan Hawkins 1-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI Matthew Swigert 1-2, RBI Nick Valentin 1-3, BB, 2 R
UNCP LEADERS (GAME 2)	KING LEADERS (GAME 2)
Ethan Ott 3-3, BB, 3 RBI Christian Jayne 1-3, BB, 2B, 2 R Trent Harris 1-2, RBI Jonathon Jacobs 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 11 K	Wes Bonney 2-3, R Davis Hall 2-4, RBI Junior Renwick 1-4, 2B, RBI Ethan Hawkins 1-4, 2B

 

UP NEXT

The Braves will close out their weekend series against King on Sunday at Sammy Cox Field. First pitch of the series finale is slated for 11:30 a.m. The start time was moved up 90 minutes due to inclement weather that is projected to move into the Pembroke area mid-afternoon.

 

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BACK THE BRAVES

Fans can help support the UNC Pembroke Baseball program by joining the Braves Club, or by making a gift directly to the program. To find out more information about the Braves Club, visit UNCPBraves.com/BravesClub or email braves.club@uncp.edu. To make a monetary gift, visit UNCPBraves.com/Give and indicate "baseball team" in notes section.