APRIL 28, 2009
KING'S SOFTBALL WINS 3-2 EIGHT-INNING THRILLER OVER WILKES, KNOBLAUCH REACHES 200-HIT PLATEAU
WILKES-BARRE – The King's College softball team won a 3-2 eight-inning thriller of a game on Tuesday at Wilkes' Softball Field at the Ralston Complex.
With the win King's advances to face number-one seeded Misericordia University in the “Final Four” of the Freedom Conference Tournament. The Lady Monarch's also improved to 21-12 on the year. Wilkes University sees its season end at 18-21.
Lauren DeCreny got King's on the board in the top of the third inning with a single through the left side to drive home the run. Wilkes got the run right back in the bottom of the fourth inning when outfielder Cori Saltzer hit a single through the left side. Erin Plank had a base hit up the middle to advance Saltzer to second. Pinch runner Angie Urban then scored on a fielder choice off the bat of Sarah Elliott.
King's was able to push in another run in the top of the fifth inning with Abbey Knoblauch starting off the inning with a single up the middle. During Megan Galvin's sacrifice to third base Knoblauch scored on a critical throwing error by the Lady Colonels. Wilkes tied the score up again in the bottom of the inning when Plank singled to drive home Kathy Dalton who hit a single of her own earlier in the inning.
The two teams stayed tied at 2-2 until the top of the eighth inning when a Becky Loring single up the middle got the inning going. Lindsey Hoerner hit a bunt single to third to give King's runners at first and second. Christy Parfitt laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third to set up Gretchen Tholen who hit a single to center field to drive home Loring.
In a dramatic bottom of the eight h with the inning starting off with a quick two outs for the Lady Monarchs' before senior Kerry Finnerty came in to pitch hit. Finnerty had a stellar at bat, not only working the count to 2-and-2, but also foul tipping a number of pitches before she drew the two out walk. Wilkes decided to pitch run with Amanda Holton setting the table for Elliott. During Elliott's at bat it appeared as if she was hit by one of Hoerner's pitches before the umpire called it a strike due to Elliott making no effort avoid the pitch. Elliott eventually hit a pop up to Knoblauch at second base to secure the victory for the Lady Monarchs.
Knoblauch led King's by going 3-for-4 and became just the third player in King's history to reach the 200-hit plateau, totaling 201 for her career. Galvin was 2-for-4 while DeCreny and Tholen added RBI singles
The Freedom Conference tournament begins Friday at Wilkes' Softball Field Complex. King's faces Misericordia at 11:00 a.m. while third seeded DeSales plays four-seeded Delaware Valley at 1:00 p.m. The two winners will then meet at 3:00 p.m. the double-elimination event continues Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
