WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 29, 2021) -- The King's College softball team split in their second doubleheader series with cross-town rival Wilkes University on Monday afternoon, posting the 11-0 shutout in game one before dropping a close contest in game two, 4-2, in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. With the split, the Monarchs took the series, 3-1, over the Colonels and improved to 7-5 overall.

Game 1 (11-0, 5 Innings):
In a game that started out as a defensive battle after one inning of action, the Monarchs exploded for seven runs in the second inning as they cruised to an 11-0 win over the Colonels. Sophomore April Bonwit got the offense started, reaching safely on a Colonels error, advancing to second as first-year Molly Gillette was hit by a pitch, and both moved up a base during sophomore Olivia Krupski's at bat. Sophomore Hannah Farr came up big to plate the first runs of the game with a one-out two-RBI single to right center, and senior Mindina Lieback kept things rolling with a double to right center to score Farr.

Sophomore Bailey Loyack kept up the hot hitting and showed some speed on the bases with an RBI triple to right field before crossing the plate as junior Kristi Ann Skok reached safely on another Wilkes fielding error. A single from senior Morgan Briggs put runners on first and second as both base runners advanced on a wild pitch. Bonwit capped off the second inning scoring as she recorded the second triple of the inning for the Monarchs, this time to left field, to score Skok and Briggs, to lead Wilkes 7-0.

A quick defensive inning for King's saw the Monarchs offense continue the momentum in the bottom of the third. Krupski led off the inning, reaching safely on a Colonels fielding error and advancing to second on a two-out single from Lieback. The two-out rally started as Krupski and Lieback moved up a base on a wild pitch and scored on a single up the middle from Loyack. Skok scored Loyack with a single to left center, and a double from Briggs ended the scoring run as the Monarchs led, 11-0.

Wilkes had a chance to plate some runs and extend the game in the top of the fifth as they loaded the bases with two outs, but an illegal substitution was called for the final out as King's recorded the win in game one of the doubleheader.

Loyack led the Monarchs offense, going a perfect 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Lieback and Briggs also posted multi-hit games for the hosts, as Lieback went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, and Briggs totaled a 2-for-3 effort with an RBI and a run. Farr and Bonwit each added two RBIs as part of the Monarchs 10 RBIs for the game, and Skok added two runs.

First-year Brandi McIntosh recorded her first career shutout in the win, improving to 2-1 on the season, throwing the complete five-inning game, giving up just four hits, and striking out two.

Four different Colonels recorded hits in the loss. The Colonels starter, Sami Hendershott took the loss on the mound, totaling 2.2 innings of action and giving up all 11 runs on nine hits.

Game 2 (L, 2-4):
The Wilkes offense came alive in game two, plating three runs on four hits in the opening inning of play, taking the early 3-0 lead over King's. The Monarchs responded in the bottom of the inning after a lead-off single up the middle from junior Lindsey Leppo, advancing to second during Loyack's at bat. Skok drilled a single through the left side to score Leppo and advanced to third on a throwing error. Bonwit recorded another single through the left side to plate Skok and bring the Monarchs within one run, 3-2, after just one inning.

A quick second and third innings that saw just one hit from each team saw the Colonels holding on to their 3-2 lead before plating the insurance run on three straight one-out singles to lead 4-2.

It was a defensive battle the remainder of the game as there was just one hit recorded, a single by Briggs to lead off the bottom of the seventh, in the final three innings of play, as the visiting Colonels secured the game two win.

Five different Monarchs recorded hits in the loss, including Leppo, Lieback, Skok, Bonwit, and Briggs. Skok and Bonwit also recorded the team's two RBIs, while Leppo and Skok scored the pair of runs in the loss. Sophomore Gabrielle Visconti recorded the loss as the Monarchs starter, pitching 3.1 innings and giving up seven hits. Graduate student Kris Kocher came in relief for 3-2 innings of action, giving up just one Colonel hit and striking out three.

Nicole O'Rourke led the Colonels offense with a 2-for-3 effort. Marissa Pick recorded a double, and Erin Cabry added a triple. Hope Mullins took the win in the complete game, giving up just the two runs on five hits.

King's has a quick turnaround as they are set to host FDU-Florham tomorrow afternoon at Betzler Athletic Complex with game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader set for 3:00 p.m.