NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 2, 2020) -- The King's College softball team continued to excel offensively as they totaled 19 runs on day two of their time in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic, defeating Gwynedd Mercy University, 9-4, and Hilbert University, 10-0, in five innings at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.

vs. Gwynedd Mercy (0-1 overall):

King's kept their hot start streak alive as they struck first in the bottom of the first after junior Mindina Lieback doubled to right center and sophomore Kristi Ann Skok drove her in two batters later with a double through the left side. Then in the bottom of the second, the Monarchs pushed their lead to 2-0 as freshman Gabrielle Visconti hit a leadoff single to the shortstop and worked her way around before scoring on a single by sophomore Lindsey Leppo. Skok struck again in the bottom of the third with a two-out solo home run over the left-center fence to give King's the 3-0 lead.

Gwynedd got their first run of the game in the top of the fourth on a three-run shot by Lauren Waller to tie the game, 3-3. In the bottom half of the inning, freshman Olivia Krupski led off with a single to right center and fellow-freshman Hannah Farr laced a double over the left fielder's head to drive in Krupski for the 4-3 lead.

The Griffins struck again in the top of the fifth after Brianna Polly drove a lead off triple to right center and Tori Sherwood brought her in with a sacrifice fly to right field on the next at bat to tie the game, 4-4. King's answered in the bottom of the inning as junior Gabby Leary hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line, and Visconti drove a single up the middle and brought in Leary to take the lead, 5-4.

The Monarchs controlled the rest of the game as they turned a double play in the top of the sixth and recorded four runs in the bottom of the inning. Leppo led off with a walk before stealing second, and freshman April Bonwit singled to third to put two on the bases for King's. A fielder's choice on the next at bat saw the Monarchs with runners on the corners before a walk by Leary loaded the bases. Freshman Bailey Loyack delivered with a single up the middle to score Leppo, and a miscue by Gwynedd Mercy saw two more Monarchs runs across the plate. To cap off the scoring, Krupski delivered again with an RBI single as King's pushed the lead to 9-4.

Visconti sealed the deal with two strikeouts in the top of the seventh as King's secured the win in their opening game.

Leppo, Lieback, Skok, Leary, Visconti, and Krupski each totaled two hits in the win, while Skok and Leary led with two runs each. Skok also recorded a home run and a double for a game-high two RBIs, while Lieback, Leary, and Farr all had doubles of their own. On the base path, Leppo and Visconti each added a steal.

Freshman Nora Zubillaga got the start in the circle today for the Monarchs and put in three innings of action in her rookie debut, giving up just five hits. Visconti came on in relief to pitch the final four innings and recorded three strikeouts while giving up just two hits and one run.

As a team, King's (2-1) totaled 15 hits on 32 at bats compared to the Griffins' seven hits. The Monarchs also added seven team RBIs and took advantage of four errors by Gwynedd Mercy.

vs. Hilbert (0-3 overall):

King's controlled this game the entire way as they plated two in the top of the second as Leary led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Loyack, and scored on a double by Krupski. On the next at bat, junior Morgan Briggs singled up the middle to score Krupski to give King's a 2-0 lead. The game went quiet over the next inning and a half before the Monarchs scored again in the top of the fourth after Briggs doubled and came around to score after a bunt by freshman Michayla Giacolone and a Hilbert miscue to hold a 3-0 advantage.

The Monarchs were able to put this one away in the top of the fifth after back-to-back doubles from Lieback and Bonwit to add another run, leading 4-0. A Leary single through the left side scored Bonwit, and then a Krupski single and Briggs walk loaded the bases with King's leading, 5-0. Giacolone ripped a single to center field to score Leary and Krupski to force a Hilbert pitching change with the Monarchs holding a 7-0 lead. The bases were loaded again in the inning after Leppo was hit by a pitch, and another Lieback double brought in three runs to post the 10-0 score. Senior Kris Kocher delivered with two strikeouts before a groundout to Leppo at short stop ended the game in just five innings.

Bonwit led the Monarchs with three hits, a double, a run, and an RBI. Lieback added two hits, both doubles, with three RBIs and a run, and Leary and Krupski both totaled two hits and two runs. Briggs rounded out the offense with two hits, an RBI, and a run in the win. Kocher picked up her second win of the season as she allowed just three hits in the shutout and recorded six strikeouts.

As a team, King's (3-1) totaled 13 hits on 26 at bats with 10 runs off 10 RBIs while leaving just four runners on base.

King's returns to play tomorrow morning for day three of their trip in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic as they face Pfeiffer University at 9:30 a.m. and Otterbein University at 1:30 p.m., both on field four.