KING'S BASEBALL FALLS TWICE IN FREEDOM TWINBILL AT WILKES
WILKES-BARRE – Host Wilkes University rallied in the late stages for a 7-6 win in game one then posted 10 hits for nine runs in a 9-3 win in game two to sweep a Freedom Conference doubleheader against King's College Tuesday afternoon at Artillery Park.
King's slips to 5-11 overall and 1-3 in league play. Wilkes sees its overall record improve to 10-4 and 5-0 in conference games.
In game one of the twin bill, Wilkes took a 1-0 lead after one inning of play when Joel Watson reached on an error scoring Carmen Lopresto. After two scoreless innings, the Monarchs gained the advantage at 2-1 as Mike Fignar tripled scoring Rich Acierno and Chris Sweeney who both walked earlier in the inning.
After each team plated a run in the fifth, King's added to their lead in the sixth. This time Brenton Eades tripled home two Monarchs to give King's some breathing room with a 5-3 lead heading to the final frame. The Monarchs added one more insurance run in the seventh as Rob Lemoncelli doubled and eventually scored following a Sweeney single to centerfield.
From there the Colonels used four hits including a Joel Watson home run to steal the conference victory in their last at-bats. Watson led off the inning with a deep drive over the centerfield fence to cut the deficit to 6-4. After King's recorded the first out of the inning, Wilkes used back-to-back singles and a King's throwing miscue to bring the deficit to 6-5. A fielder's choice would move the runners to second and third and Lopresto singled through the left side to plate the game tying and game winning runs for the host Colonels.
In the nightcap, Wilkes pounded out 10 hits plating nine runs to conclude the sweep. The Colonels took a 3-0 lead after the second inning thanks to three RBI singles in the frame. King's responded in the third when Joey Troxel doubled and later scored after a Sweeney single to left field to make it 3-1.
The Monarchs completed the comeback in the fourth scoring two more runs. Singles from Fignar and Eades began the rally and an RBI single from Tim Shea made the score 3-2. After a Troxel walk loaded the bases, Anthony Re's sacrifice fly plated Eades to tie the game at 3-3.
The Colonels then used a big fifth inning to take back the lead for good scoring five runs on four hits and held off any late inning rally by King's to record the win.
King's will continue the season series with Wilkes tomorrow when the teams meet in a single nine-inning affair at Lippo Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
