EDWARDSVILLE, PA (March 27, 2021) -- The King's College softball team continued to take advantage of the good vibes and beautiful weather, posting the doubleheader sweep at cross-town rival Wilkes University in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play on Saturday afternoon at Ralston Athletic Complex.

Game 1 (W, 3-0):
For the third game in a row, King's (6-4) struck in the first inning, as they plated two runs and never looked back. First-year Kiersten Krouse jump started the Monarchs offense with a leadoff single to left center before scoring on an RBI double from senior Mindina Lieback. Sophomore Bailey Loyack stepped up next for the Monarchs third straight hit of the game, knocking a single through the left side to advance Lieback to third, and she quickly stole second. Back-to-back walks from junior Kristi Ann Skok and sophomore Hannah Farr plated the second run for King's, as they led 2-0 after one inning of play.

King's had a few opportunities to increase their lead, putting a runner on third in the second and the third innings, but the Colonels defense held the Monarchs to their two-run lead. Wilkes (1-3) got their best chance of the game in the bottom of the fourth as Erin Cabry hit a one-out double and advanced to third on the next at bat, but King's was able to prevent that run as a groundout to junior shortstop Lindsey Leppo halted the Colonels scoring opportunity.

The Monarchs got back-to-back walks again from Loyack and Skok to start the seventh inning before a sacrifice bunt by Farr put both runners in scoring position with one out. This time it was first-year Molly Gillette's turn as she knocked a two-out single down the left-field line to plate the final run of the game and give King's the insurance run, leading 3-0.

The Colonels put two runners on base as they tried to tie the game, but a heads-up double play from sophomore Olivia Krupski that tagged out the base runner before connecting with Gillette at first left Wilkes with just a runner on third with two outs. It was Gillette's glove that ended the game, cleanly fielding the ground ball and stepping on the bag to secure the 3-0 win in game one for the Monarchs.

Krouse led the Monarchs offense going 3-for-4 with a run and two stolen bases. Gillette also posted a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Skok worked three walks and recorded a double to go a perfect 1-for-1 for the game. Sophomore Gabrielle Visconti was exceptional again on the mound for King's, improving to 3-1 on the season with her second straight complete game shutout, giving up just four hits against 26 Colonels hitters.

Emma Stauffer led the Colonels offense, going 2-for-3 for two of the Colonels' four hits for the game. Rachel Pritchard recorded the loss as she gave up all three runs on eight Monarch hits.

Game 2 (W, 10-2, 6 Innings):
It was King's leading off in the run column again in game two, stringing together three hits in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. Leppo led off with a double to left center and scored on a one-out RBI single to right center by Lieback. A bunt single from Loyack put two Monarchs on with just one out, and two costly Colonels errors during Skok's at bat plated two more runs for King's. Graduate student Kris Kocher went to work on the mound in the bottom of the inning, striking out all three Wilkes batters to maintain the 3-0 lead.

The Monarchs bats were hot again in the top of the fifth after a one-out single from first-year Sydney Bachman got things started. She advanced to second on a walk from Leppo but was out at third on a head's up defensive play from the Colonels to hold runners at just first and second. Lieback made up for it with a two-out, two-RBI double to right center to score Leppo and Krouse to push the King's lead to 5-0.

The Colonels got their shot to make up the scoring deficit in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases on a lead-off single from Jordyn Kondras, a one-out single from Cabry, and a two-out walk from Hayden Calaman, but a fly out to left field ended the Wilkes run.

A big fifth inning for King's saw the Monarchs record four runs on just three hits to lead the host Colonels, 9-0.  Skok started the inning as she reached safely and advanced to second on a Wilkes error as Krupski stepped in to pinch run. Sophomore April Bonwit reached safely with one out and advanced Krupski to third on another Colonels error. A sacrifice bunt to the pitcher from senior Gabriella Medina loaded the bases, and Bachman knocked in one on a one-out single just over the shortstop's head. Another single from Leppo scored two, with Leppo advancing to second on the throw, before Krouse capped off the inning with a two-out single to center field to score Leppo with the Monarchs leading 9-0 after five innings of play.

Wilkes got on the board for the first time in the doubleheader on a two-out, two-run home run to right field from Marissa Pick, but King's continued to hold a 9-2 lead heading to the sixth inning.

One more crossed the plate for the Monarchs in the top of the sixth after back-to-back singles from Loyack and Skok. The pair moved up a base on a wild pitch, and Loyack scored on a sacrifice fly from Farr as King's led, 10-2.

A Monarchs fielding error put a runner on for the Colonels with one out, but back-to-back pop ups sealed the 10-2 win for King's in game two at Wilkes.

Five different Monarchs posted multi-hit games, led by Lieback who went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, and a run. Leppo posted a perfect 2-for-2 effort with three runs, two RBIs, and a double, and Loyack went 2-for-4 with two runs. Skok and Bachman also added two hits each in the win. Kocher improved to 2-1 on the season, pitching the complete six-inning game, giving up just two runs on four hits and striking out four.

Four different Colonels recorded hits in the loss led by Pick's home run. Rhia Aurand took the loss as the starter, pitching five innings and giving up 10 runs on 12 hits.

The Monarchs are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they host the Colonels for the second half of their home-and-home series at Betzler Athletic Complex. Game one in MAC Freedom play is set to start at 1:00 p.m.