WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 16, 2019) – After a last-minute switch this morning to Betzler Field, King's College swept Keystone College back to back in a nonconference doubleheader to advance their overall record to 16-13.

Game 1: King's 6, Keystone 2
King's made an immediate impact in game one as Nicole Kirse didn't allow one run or hit by the Giants in the first inning.
 
The Monarchs sent Mindina Lieback around third and to the plate after a left field single got her to first and a double to right center by freshmen Kristi Ann Skok brought her home.
 
Keystone answered with two runs of their own to take the lead in the second, but it would be short lived as King's answered back to tie the game 2-2.
 
Marisa Mauro started off the second inning for the Monarchs as she walked in the first at bat and advanced to second on a passed ball by Keystone. As Lindsey Leppo beat the throw on a bunt, Mauro would get to third and bring in King's second run thanks to a Mackenzie Yori sac fly.
 
The Monarchs didn't get on the board again until the bottom of the fourth where they would tally two scores, one by Yori and another Leppo. The duo scored on bases loaded with Taylor Norris up to bat and sent forth by a right field single.
 
The last two runs by KC were taken in the fifth inning and the Monarchs would hold Keystone to two for the remainder of the game. Pinch hitting for Mauro, Andria Narisi made it to first sending the previously walked Gabby Leary to second.
 
Kirse notched a hit herself pushing each Monarch forward and Leary would be tagged at third for the first out of the inning. Leppo beat another bunt to first and collecting another RBI as she advanced to second on the throw and Narisi made it home.
 
With Yori up to bat and Kirse on third, Yori would notch her second sac fly of the game to propel Kirse over the plate for King's final run of the game.
 
The Giants would only get one more hit for the rest of the game but wouldn't be able to get ahead as Kirse allowed only six hits in 26 at bats and struck out four batters. Her record stands at 6-7 with the win.


Game 2: King's 8, Keystone 4
Despite the rain, King's came back to take game two with Gianna Marsico in the circle for most of the game. The freshman held the Giants scoreless until the sixth inning where they would attempt to tie the game up.
 
First on the board was King's in the third inning. Leppo would make it to first on a center field single and advance to second on a wild pitch but setting the Monarchs in scoring position was Yori who tapped a bunt that pushed Leppo to third and herself around to second.
 
Powerhouse hitter Lieback would register a hit that brought Leppo home and Yori to third as Gabriella Medina was up to bat. In between pitches, Lieback stole second and would score right after Yori due to a left center dinger by Medina.
 
Medina tallied the Monarchs fourth run of the game and inning following a right field fly by Narisi. The score was 4-0 heading into the fourth.
Yori scored for the second time in game two at the end of the fourth as she walked to first and got around the bases as the Giants missed two big plays.
 
In a last effort, Keystone came back in the sixth to score three putting the score at 5-3 with one out and Kris Kocher would take over in the circle for the Monarchs. Kocher struck out both batters to end the inning.
 
Leppo and Yori grabbed another run each for the day brought in again by a Medina single pushing the score to 7-3. Lieback would clinch the last point for the Monarchs as Skok tallied her second RBI of the day.
 
The Giants put one more run on the board in the seventh inning but would come up short as Kocher struck out the last two.
 
Marsico got the win for King's putting her record at 4-1 while pitching 5.1 innings and facing 25 batters allowing eight hits and striking out one.
 
Kocher got her second save of the season coming in for the last inning and striking out four of her eight batters while allowing two hits.

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The Monarchs travel to Dallas, Pa. this Thursday for another Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom doubleheader. Game one will begin at 2:00 p.m. at Anderson Field.