KING'S SOFTBALL SWEPT BY 10TH RANKED ITHACA
(Lady Monarchs Set for Freedom Tourney)

ITHACA, NY -- The King's softball team team closed out the regular-season on Tuesday with a doubleheader loss to host Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY.

The Bombers, ranked 10th nationally in Division III, won the first game 4-1 before taking the nightcap 5-1. With the sweep, Ithaca improved to 28-8 on the year while King's slipped to 19-11.

The Lady Monarchs may not have won either game, but the team did walk away something far more important - 14 innings of critical work against a top-notch opponent in preparation for this weekend's Freedom Conference Championships.

In the opener, Ithaca broke open a 0-0 game by scoring all four runs in the sixth inning, keyed by a two-run double by Lauren Greney and a King's error

King's would score its lone run in the seventh inning when Kelsey Shreaves walked and scored on a one-out double by Abbey Knoblauch. Becky Loring led the Lady Monarchs with two of the team's four base hits while Shreaves (10-5) took the pitching loss, allowing nine hits and four runs, three which were earned.

In the second game King's fell behind 2-0 after two innings and cut into the lead with a run in the fourth when Leanne Harvey doubled and scored on a single from Lindsey Hoerner.

The Bombers, however, would plate three runs in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead it would maintain over the final two innings. Leanne Harvey led King's with two of the Lady Monarchs four base hits. Hoerner (9-6) suffered the pitching loss, allowing nine hits and five earned runs.

The Lady Monarchs will begin play in the Freedom Conference Tournament Friday at 100 p.m. when the second seeded Lady Monarchs face third-seeded Delaware Valley at Wilkes University's Ralston Complex in Edwardsville. The double-elimination tournament will conclude on Saturday.