APRIL 30, 2011
KING'S BASEBALL TEAM CLINCHES FREEDOM CONFERENCE TOURNEY BERTH WITH SWEEP OF DELAWARE VALLEY
WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College baseball team overcame a 4-0 deficit in the second game of a critical doubleheader with Delaware Valley and came all the way back to post a 5-4 victory to clinch a 2011 Freedom Conference Tournament berth on the final day of the regular-season.
With the win, King's improved to 16-17-1 overall and 11-9-1 in Freedom Conference games. Delaware Valley slipped to 7-21 and 4-14.
King's came into the doubleheader in fifth-place in the Freedom Conference. The Monarchs stood at 9-9-1 in league games and trailed third-place FDU-Florham (11-8) and fourth-place Wilkes (10-9).
After FDU won its first game of a doubleheader against Misericordia, the Devils clinched third place. After King's won its opener against Delaware Valley and Wilkes downed Manhattanville in the first game of another conference doubleheader, the Colonels held a half-game lead over the Monarchs for the fourth and final playoff spot, the season would come down the final regular-season game.
Things started horribly wrong for King's in the deciding second game as the Aggies broke out to a 4-0 first-inning lead, holding the advantage through three complete innings. Meanwhile, Wilkes had opened up a 5-1 lead over Manhattanville in the third inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Monarchs got on the board when Chris Sweeney doubled and later scored on a base hit by Rich Acierno. Two batters later, Matt Pritchard stroke a big two-out single to cut the Aggie lead to 4-2. In the fifth inning, Joey Troxell led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Sweeney. Mike Fignar followed with a RBI base hit before Brenton Eades drilled a two-run double to the left field warning track to give the Monarchs a 5-4 lead after five innings.
Meanwhile, Troxell was delivered a brilliant performance since entering the game in relief with two out in the first inning. The Monarch senior allowed just three hits as Delaware Valley entered its final at-bats
Just prior to going out to picth the seventh and final inning, Troxell and the Monarchs learned had rallied Manhattanville to post a 9-7 win over Wilkes, opening the door to clinch a playoff berth if the Monarchs held on. King's would need just three outs to qualify for the conference tournament.
In the final inning, Troxell walked leadoff hitter Mike Otstot before retiring the next two batters. Troxell then walked Dan Hrubos to give the Aggies runner at first and second. The Monarch hurler, however, would end the game when he struck out Jim Calabrese, as the Monarchs stormed the field to celebrate their dramatic post-season berth.
Troxell enjoyed an outstanding overall game, improving his pitching record to 4-1 by yielding just three hits in six and one-third innings while striking out six batters. At the plate, he was 2-for-4 with a double while scoring a run.
Sweeney was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Eades went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI while Acierno was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.
In the opener, King's led 2-1 after two innings. The Monarchs broke open the game with three runs in the third and two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to put the game away.
Sweeney was 2-for-2 with two doubles and two walks while scoring three runs. Troxell went 3-for-4 with a run and RBI. Fignar was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI while Eades finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Rob Lemoncelli chipped in with two hits.
Levi Tate (3-1) was the winning pitcher for King's scattering nine hits over seven complete innings while striking out two batters.
King's will now await word on its Freedom Conference playoff opponents as fellow playoff squads DeSales and Misericordia must complete conference make-up games on Sunday.
