MARCH 24, 2009
KING'S BASEBALL UPENDS 28TH RANKED ALVERNIA, 6-2
WILKES-BARRE -- Jon Venarchick went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs to power the host King's College baseball team to a 6-2 victory over nationally-ranked Alvernia University Tuesday at Lipo Field in the Robert L. Betzler Athletic Complex.
With the win, King's improved to 13-5 overall and 3-0 in Freedom Conference play. Alvernia, which entered the game ranked 28th nationally in the American Baseball Coaches Association Division III National Poll, slipped to 13-6 while making its Freedom Conference debut.
Alvernia broke open a scoreless game in the fifth inning when Tyler Runkle singled, moved to third on an error and scored from second base on a King's throwing error. The Monarchs took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half of the fifth when Eric Matula singled and scored on a triple by Venarchick. Gracjan Kraszewski then singled home Venarchick to put the Monarchs ahead.
King's would build a 3-1 lead in the sixth when Rob Fravel doubled and scored on a double by Matt Feci. Alvernia cut the lead to 3-2 in the seventh inning when Erich Focht singled and later scored from third following a sacrifice fly by Tim Ahlquist.
The Monarchs, however, would counter with a run in the bottom half of the seventh when Kraszewski singled, moved to second on a base hot by Matt Unger, and scored on a single by Rob Fravel.
King's added two insurance runs in the eighth when Matt Feci doubled and Eric Matula drew a two-out walk. Venarchick then ripped a two-run double to right field, his fourth hit of the game, to put the Monarchs on top 6-2.
Dan Jenkins would enter the game in relief for King's and retired three straight batters after issuing a leadoff infield single.
Ryan Derry picked up the win for King's, scattering seven hits in eight complete innings. Derry struck out five batters and walked three, yielding one earned run.
Venarchick, meanwhile, continued his torrid pace, hitting safely in his eight straight game and in 16-of-17 games played this season. He finished the game with two singles, a double, and triple to pace the Monarch attack. Kraszewski was 3-for-5 with a RBI while Feci went 2-for-1 with one RBI as the Monarchs banged 16 hits on the day.
Runkle led Alvernia with a team-best two hits. Chuck Nicholas (2-3) was the losing pitcher, allowing four runs, all earned, on 13 hits with two strikeouts in six and two-thirds innings.
King's returns to action Thursday when the Monarchs host Keuka College at 3:30 p.m. at Lipo Field.
