KING'S SOFTBALL ELIMINATES FDU FROM TOURNEY, ADVANCES TO FACE DELAWARE VALLEY

EDWARDSVILLE -- The second seeded King's College used excellent pitching and timely hitting to stay alive and advance in the Freedom Conference Tournament taking a 10-2 decision over the fourth seeded FDU-Florham on Saturday morning at Ralston Complex.

With the win, King's advances to face Delaware Valley in round two of the elimination bracket. FDU-Florham sees its season end at 26-16.

Leann Harvey got King's on the board in the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run over the left-center field fence. In the bottom of the third inning, with two outs Abby Knoblauch doubled to right-center. Harvey then singled to left field and an error by the left fielder led to Knoblauch crossing the plate extending King's lead to 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Lindsey Hoerner led off the inning with a single to right. Becky Loring attempted a bunt to move the runner to second, but a nice play by the pitcher got Hoerner at second. Lauren DeCreny then singled to right, moving Loring to third. Katie Fry then delivered a key double off the left field fence plating both runs extending the lead to 4-0. Christy Parfit continued King's offensive attack singling to center as Fry scored making it 5-0. Annie Drimones then doubled to plate Parfit widening the margin to 6-0. Harvey would reach on an error by the shortstop and Drimones would score on the play making it 7-0. Hoerner would finally end the five-run inning, grounding out to the pitcher.

In the top of the fifth inning, after a Tara Hulse walk and Christina Fabian single, Hulse would score on a wild pitch by Hoerner cutting the lead to 7-1. In the top of the sixth inning, Katelyn Smith hit a home run over the left field fence making the score 7-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, after Knoblauch singled and Meaghan Galvin walked, Loring would double off the center field fence scoring both runs extending the lead to 9-2. Fry would then single in Loring to make the score 10-2, ending the game due to the eight-run rule.

Hoerner was excellent on the mound picking up the win for King's going the entire six innings allowing two runs, five hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. Fry led King's offensive attack with three hits, including a two run double. Knoblauch, Harvey, Loring and DeCreny each added two hits, as King's pounded out 14 base hits in the game.

King's will now face Delaware Valley at 11:00 a.m. in an elimination game. If victorious, the Lady Monarchs will meet DeSales in the championship game.

The first championship game is slated for 1:00 p.m., If another game is needed it will follow at approximately 3:00 p.m.