BRISTOL, Tenn. – King rallied from one-run deficits in both games of a doubleheader to spoil Mansfield's 2017 season opener in Tennessee on Saturday.

The Mountaineers dropped game one 6-3 before being edged 2-1 in game two.
 
King (6-3, 0-0 Conference Carolinas) was first to get on the board in the second inning of the opener, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI ground out. Mansfield (0-2, 0-0 PSAC East) responded by putting a pair of runners on in the top of the second with Colby Schearer singling to the pitcher and Taylor Hillson drawing a walk. Both scored on an error by the shortstop to give the Mounties a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Tornados responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to bring their lead back to two runs.
 
Peter Pena led-off the fourth with a double down the left field line and Wes Custer singled through the right side to put runners on the corners. Scott Rockwell drove a ball into right field that scored Pena, but Mansfield would strand a pair of runners trailing 4-3.
 
King added runs in the fourth and fifth increase its lead.
 
Mark Hendricks earned the win on the mound, going 4.3 innings with four hits and one earned run allowed. Mitch Stophel picked up the save.
 
Chase Pepper took the loss in his 2017 debut.
 
In game two, Mansfield struck first putting a run on the board in the top of the second with Jerry Chavarria scoring Custer with a sacrifice fly.
 
Mountaineer starting pitcher Luke Hils allowed just one hit through four scoreless innings of work. However, King scored the tying run in the fifth inning and pushed across the eventual game-winner in the sixth.
 
Hils allowed five hits and two earned runs while striking out three batters in a complete game effort.
 
King's Octavio Mirabal went the distance and struck out eight batters to earn his third win of the season.
 
Mansfield plays two more against King on Sunday.