MARCH 28, 2013

KING'S SOFTBALL SWEEPS MISERICORDIA IN FREEDOM CONFERENCE TWIN BILL

WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College softball team posted an important sweep of local rival Misericordia University in a Freedom Conference doubleheader Thursday in the Betzler Athletic Complex.

King's won the first game 5-2 before taking the nightcap 15-4 in six innings. The sweep enabled King's to improve to 14-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play while Misericordia, the defending Freedom champion, fell to 3-11 and 0-4.

In the opener King's took a 1-0 first inning lead when Erin Beane singled and scored on a base hit from Tina Seber. The Lady Monarchs added a run in the fourth on a solo home run by Katie Kowalski, but the Cougars tied the game with two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth.

King's took advantage of a two-out error and scored three runs in the sixth on a RBI single from Kowalski and a two-run single from Jenn Harnischfeger.

Kowalski topped King's with a 2-for-3 effort, including two runs and two RBI. Nicolette Pizzo was 2-for-3 while Amanda Cardone finished 2-for-4. Brittany Haight was the inning pitcher in relief for King's, tossing four scoreless innings.

In the nightcap, the lady Monarchs took a 2-0 first inning lead when Jenn Harnischfeger drew a leadoff walk, moved to second on a Beanie bunt, then scored when Amanda Cardone drilled a double to the centerfield fence. Cardone would later score on a Cougar error.

King's added four more runs in the second on the strength of a two-run double from Tina Seber and a RBI single by Maggie Gola.

After Misericordia answered with three runs in the bottom of the second, King's countered with two more runs in the third. Beane reached base on an error and Cardone doubled, After a walk to Seber, Gola stroked a two-run single to push the score to 8-3.

Misericordia scored a run in the fourth but the Lady Monarchs continued o light up the scoreboard with three runs in the fifth. Cardone and Seber both singled before Gola delivered a RBI double. Kayla Rutkoski and Amy Kowalczyk also added RBI's to extend the advantage to 11-4.

King's would end the game in the sixth inning when Bean and Cardone singled before Seber delivered a RBI single. Gola then blasted a three-run home run, her seventh of the season, to bring the score to 15-4 before the game was halted a half inning later due to the eight-run mercy rule.

Gola finished 4-for-5 with seven RBI while Cardone went 4-for-5 with four runs. Seber was 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI while Kowalski contributed with a 2-for-4 effort. Beane scored three runs while Harnischfeger added two runs for the Lady Monarchs.

Haight was again the winner in relief, allowing five hits and one run with four strikeouts in four and two-thirds innings.

King's returns to action Tuesday with a 3:00 p.m. home doubeheader against Oneonta State.