BERWICK, PA (February 22, 2020) --- The King's College baseball team outscored Clarks Summit University 37-1 on Saturday afternoon in a season-opening sweep of Defenders from the Berwick Turf Field in Berwick. King's won the opening game of the doubleheader 21-1 before taking the nightcap 16-0.

The Monarch offense was patience at the plate in the first game drawing 13 walks including three by leadoff hitter Matt Dobeck. King's scored four runs in their first at-bat as Noah Adams drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run and then winded up scoring the final run of the inning on the first career hit by Will McIntosh.

Matt Mellinger picked right up where he left off last year with a two-RBI double to left in the second inning to increase the lead to 6-0. In the fourth Chris Burke hit an RBI triple to right and then scored on a Mellinger ground out to third. Dobeck hit a base-loaded triple down the line in left during a four-run fifth in his only plate appearance that he didn't draw a walk.

Colby Toth was efficient on the mound throwing 60 pitches in four innings of work striking out three and walking just two. The Defenders only hit off him came on a leadoff single to center in the second. He quickly erased that base runner catching a liner back up the middle and doubling the runner off at first.

Clarks Summit scored their only run of the day in the sixth inning on a one-out triple on a ball Dobeck just missed making a spectacular diving catch on and then a groundout to short. King's responded in the bottom of the inning with nine runs on just four hits as the CSU pitches struggled finding the strike zone against a very patient Monarch offense.

Mellinger led the Monarchs in the first game with three hits, three RBI, and two runs scored in four at-bats. Liam Hughes also had three RBI in the sixth inning on a bases loaded walk and a two-RBI single. The Monarchs did a great job at driving runners in leaving just five on base while racking up 11 hits and 13 walks.

Jacob Lupas and Kyle Friebolin combined to shut down the CSU offense in the second game while the offense scored 14 runs in innings two-through-four. No Defenders got past first base in the nightcap. Lupas and Friebolin allowed just one hit each while Friebolin walked one. King's faced just two batters over the minimum in the game with 12 CSU being retired in order as KC built their lead. Lupas got the win striking out three in four innings. Friebolin picked up a three-inning save with four strikeouts.

The Monarchs jumped on the Defenders in the second inning with four runs. Andrew Steidle, Burke, Mellinger, and Seth Laky drove in the runs. The following inning Burke broke the game wide open with a three-run shot to deep left field for his first home run of the year giving King's an 8-0 lead. The Monarchs would hit two more homers in a six-run fourth as Cole Keating and Will Hronich knocked their first career four-baggers. Keating's shot was a three-run blast to the gap in left center while Hronich gave the Monarchs a 14-0 lead with a blast down the line in left.

Once again, the Monarchs showed great patience at the plate drawing 11 walks by the CSU pitchers. Burke led the way in the second game with three hits, four RBI, and two runs scored. Mellinger also had three hits to give him six on the day. Defensively, the Monarchs had a great day recording no errors on 59 total chances and two double plays, one in each game.

King's will be back in action next Sunday down in Florida as they begin their spring break trip with a twin bill against John Carroll University from the Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale.