MAY 8, 2016

KING'S SOFTBALL ELIMINATED FROM CONFERENCE TOURNEY WITH 7-5 LOSS TO FDU 

WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College softball team saw its season come to an end one win away from reaching the league title game with a 7-5 loss to FDU-Florham in the double-elimination Freedom Conference Championships Sunday at Wilkes University's Ralston Athletic Complex.

King's, which stranded 12 runners in the game, concluded its season with a 23-18 record and earned a Freedom Conference record 17th consecutive league tournament berth. FDU, meanwhile, improved to 19-14.

FDU took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on the strength of a two-run double by Taylor Torre and run-scoring single from Courtney Rohde.

King's answered with a run in the top of the second when Nicole Turner and Lexi Wolk singled, Brianna DiMaggio walked to load the bases, and Amber Saylor delivered a one-out sacrifice fly to center field. But King's was unable to follow up and left the bases loaded.

King's missed out on another opportunity in the third when the Monarchs placed runners at first and second with one out but made two straight outs as the score remained the same.

The Devil took advantage with a two-run bottom half on a RBI double by Rohde and a run-scoring single from Jackie Herrington to stretch the score to 5-1.

FDU added a run in the fourth when Marlena Bevilaqua singled, stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nikki Caruso to build a 6-1 advantage.

The Monarchs pushed across a run in the fifth when Rachael DeTore doubled and later scored on a two-out single by Lexi Wolk to trim the lead to 6-2.

In the bottom of the sixth FDU tacked on another when Herrington reached base on a fielder's choice and eventually scored on a single by Bevilaqua. King's added another run in the sixth when Samantha Bloom led off with a triple and scored on a single by Kelcie Senchak.

The Monarchs rally fell short in the seventh when Alizabeth Ellsworth drew a leadoff walk, Turner singled and Wolk drew a walk to load the bases.  Shelby Eby they came through with a RBI single and, after a line drive out to shortstop, Saylor drove in a run with an infield grounder to cut the FDU lead to 7-5. But with two out, Samantha Bloom grounded out to second-base to end the game.

Turner was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Wolk finished 2-for-3 with a RBI. DeTore went 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored while Senchak was also 2-for-4 with a RBI. Senchak also took the pitching loss, allowing five runs, three earned, on five hits in two and two-thirds innings of work. 

For FDU, Bevilaqua, Rohde, and Rebecca Dearko had two hits each. Sydney Wolk was the winning pitcher, allowing three runs on 10 hits with six strikeouts.

King's lost its opening game of the tournament to eventual champion Manhattanville 6-5 on Friday morning, then remained alive with a 3-1 victory over Misericordia on Friday night, seting up Saturday's game with FDU.