MARCH 21, 2013

KING'S SOFTBALL POSTS DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF SCRANTON

WILKES-BARRE - The King's College softball team improved its season record to 8-2 as the Lady Monarchs posted a doubleheader sweep over the University of Scranton on a frigid afternoon in the Betzler Athletic Complex.

With the teams playing in 30-degree temperatures, King's won the first game 3-1 before taking the nightcap 8-0 in six innings.

In the first game the Lady Monarchs manufactured three runs on just three hits in the game. Scranton took a 1-0 lead in the game's opening at-bars when Gabriella Santerelli reached base on an error and later scored on a single from Jamie Hampsey.

King's answered with a run in the bottom of the frame when Jenn Harnischfeger walked and later scored on a Scranton error.

King's took a 2-1 lead in the fifth when Harnischfeger walked, stole second, and scored on a base hit by Kayla Rutkoski. The Lady Monarchs scored the final run of the gamed in the sixth inning when Katie Kowalski singled and later scored from third on a wild pitch.

Annie Erndl was the winning pitcher for King's, scattering nine hits and striking out three batters. Brittany Haight picked up the save, allowing no hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Hampsey was the hard-luck loser, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out seven batters.

In the second game King's forged a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Harnischfeger walked, stole second, and later scored from third on a wild pitch.

King's broke the game open with four runs in the fourth, on the strength of a two-run triple from Harnischfeger and a solo home run off the bat of Maggie Gola to push the score to 5-0.

The Lady Monarchs ended the gamed with three runs in the sixth, keyed by a two-run single from Nicolette Pizzo.

Harnischfeger was 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI while Rutkoski was also 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Gola went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI while Pizzo was 1-for-2 with two RBI.

Karisa Kross was the winning pitcher in relief, allowing one hits and striking out five batters in two innings. Haight started for King's and allowed no runs on six hits while striking out five hitters.

Hampsey was again the losing pitcher, allowing one run in one inning.

King's returns to action Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader at Delaware Valley College.