WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 14, 2021) -- After a close first game at the Betzler Athletic Complex, the King's College softball team exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to claim their first win of the season and improve to 1-3 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play over Stevens.

Game 1 (L, 3-4):
In the first home contest for the Monarchs in nearly two years, Stevens (3-1) struck first in the bottom of the first on a two-out RBI double to lead 1-0. After a scoreless second and third, King's tied the game on a solo home run by sophomore April Bonwit in the bottom of the fourth.

King's kept the momentum into the bottom of the fifth when sophomore Hannah Farr singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch before senior Morgan Briggs laced a double to right center to score Farr. Junior Lindsey Leppo stepped in to pinch run for Briggs as she advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a one-out sacrifice bunt from first year Kiersten Krouse, giving the Monarchs a 3-1 lead.

The Ducks offense came alive in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs on five hits to take the 4-3 lead. King's had one last shot to tie the game and force extra innings when sophomore Olivia Krupski hit a one-out single and advanced to second on another sacrifice bunt from Krouse. Senior Mindina Lieback snuck a hit through the left side and stole second with two outs, but the Monarchs came up just short, falling 4-3 in game one of the doubleheader.

Briggs led the Monarchs offense, going a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, while Bonwit went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. First year Brandi McIntosh took the loss in her first collegiate appearance, totaling 6.1 innings of action and giving up just four runs.

Three Ducks posted multi-hit games in the opener, and leadoff hitter Samantha Shattin led with two runs. Jessie Masur improved to 2-0 on the season throwing a complete game for Stevens.

Game 2 (W, 8-2):
The final game in the home-and-home series featured a slow start as neither team scored in the first two innings of play. King's tallied the first run of the game in the bottom of the third after a leadoff walk from first year Molly Gillette. Gillette advanced to second on consecutive fielder's choices from Leppo and Lieback before sophomore Bailey Loyack drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Bonwit delivered the first run again as all runners were safe on a Ducks error and the Monarchs led 1-0.

Each team posted two runs in the fourth as Stevens recorded their two runs on three hits to take the 2-1 lead over the Monarchs. Briggs continued her hot hitting for the day with a one-out single down the left field line and scored on an RBI double to center from Gillette. Then, Krupski hit a sacrifice fly to score Gillette as King's regained the lead, 3-2.

A quick fifth inning from both teams set up the Monarchs for their explosive five-run inning in the bottom of the sixth. Briggs got the run started with another one-out single and pinch runner Krouse advanced to second on a Gillette walk. Back-to-back singles from Krupski and Leppo tacked on two more runs for the hosts. Loyack delivered a two-out two RBI double to left field before Bonwit drove in the game's final run with a single to right center.

Two quick line outs by the Ducks and a strikeout by sophomore Gabrielle Visconti secured the win for the Monarchs, 8-2, over the visiting Ducks.

Loyack and Briggs both went 2-for-3 in the win. Bonwit, Krupski, and Loyack led the way with two RBIs a piece, and Gillette recorded three runs for King's. Visconti recorded the win for the Monarchs, improving to 1-1 on the season, pitching all seven innings of action and giving up just two runs.

Amanda Delorme led Stevens going 3-for-3 and adding a run. Erin Kreis took the loss in 5.2 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits.

The Monarchs will return to play on Saturday as they begin their MAC Freedom home-and-home series with DeSales University, hosting the Bulldogs on March 20 with a 12:00 p.m. start time before travelling to Center Valley, PA on Sunday.