MISERICORDIA TAKES TWO FROM KING'S BASEBALL
WILKES-BARRE -- Visiting Misericordia University used 28 runs over two games to post a sweep of King's College in a Freedom doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Lippo Field. The Cougars posted a 10-6 win in game one before coasting to an 18-6 victory in game two.
Following the sweep, King's drops to 6-13 overall and 2-5 in league play. Misericordia improves to 11-5 overall and 2-1 in conference games.
King's opened game one scoring twice in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. Brenton Eades walked and scored on an RBI double from Jared Turner one batter later. Joey Troxell would continue his hot bat singling home Turner later in the inning.
Misericordia answered with four runs in the top of the third to take a 4-2 advantage, but the lead was short-lived. The Monarchs plated three more runs in the bottom half of the frame to take back the lead, 5-2. Turner was huge again for King's hitting his second double of the contest, this time of the two-run variety. Rich Acierno later singled to score Eades to complete the inning.
After Misericordia struck twice in the fifth to make the game 5-4, King's Rob Lemoncelli added another Monarch run in the bottom half of the inning when he singled home Acierno who singled earlier in the frame giving King's a 6-4 lead through five.
The sixth inning would prove to be the difference as the Cougars rallied with two outs to score six runs in the inning. The Monarchs had two at-bats to try to mount a comeback, but Misericordia's relief pitching held King's in check to seal the win.
Game two proved to be a slugfest right from the start. Misericordia led off the game scoring two runs including a deep home run over the centerfield fence by Kenny Durling. King's responded with a big inning of their own in the bottom of the first as Troxel and Rob Lemoncelli both reached safely. Chris Sweeney would connect on a three-run homer, his third of the season, to give King's a 3-2 lead after one.
From there, Misericordia exploded for atleast one run in every inning including a decisive eight-run fourth to cruise to the victory. The eight-run frame was the most runs given up by the King's staff this season in a single inning which included a grand slam home run from Misericordia's Andrew Tressa.
Troxel led King's going 4-for-8 on the afternoon with two runs scored. Sweeney finished 3-for-7 with four RBI and one homer.
King's will return to the field tomorrow (Monday) to conclude the three-game series with Misericordia. The venue and time of the contest has yet to be determined.
