HOBOKEN, NJ (March 7, 2021) -- Chris Burke belted his first home run of the year and knocked in four runs as the King's College baseball team opened the 2021 season at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. The host Ducks won both games of the doubleheader by scores of 6-0 and 7-5.

The Ducks, who were playing their first conference games as a member of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom, used two innings in each game to score all their runs. King's, who were playing on a baseball field for the first time this spring, got better as the day went on and showed signs of picking up right where they left off in 2020 against a quality opponent in the Ducks.

Stevens won the opener behind a strong pitching performance by Leo Bristow. The righty allowed four hits and walked three throwing 92 pitchers in five innings of work. The Monarchs were able to get runners in scoring position against Bristow but were unable to knock in any runs.

Matt Dobeck had two of the Monarchs hits including leading off the season beating out a grounder up the middle that the shortstop fielded but his throw was late to first. In the bottom of the inning The Ducks also got their leadoff man on with a single. However, the Monarchs erased the runner with a strikeout from Colby Toth and Noah Adams throwing the runner out trying to steal second.

Colby Toth matched Bristow on the mound for the first few innings shutting down the Ducks batters. Stevens was able to get on the board in the third inning when they loaded the bases on three consecutive singles. The Ducks knocked in all three with a slow grounder to third where the only play was to get the out at first and then a two-run single to right center. Toth was able to get out of the inning with his third strikeout of the afternoon.

The Ducks added three more runs in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead. All three runs were unearned for the Monarchs as Stevens was able to take advantage of a couple errors made in the field. After a leadoff single and a one-out walk, SIT scored their first run of the inning on a throwing error as the Monarchs tried to turn a double play. Landon La Bar relieved Toth after a walk loaded the bases with one out. La Bar got a popup to first before a fielding error allowed the final two runs to score.

King's battled all game against strong pitching by the Ducks. The Monarchs put runners on base in nearly every inning but struggled to knock in any runs leaving eight runners on base. Brendan Mozeleski, Cole Keating, and Brennen Schneider each had a hit with Schneider recording his first collegiate hit. Mozeleski also stole a base. Toth went 3.1 innings and allowed six runs, three earned, with three strikeouts and two walks. LaBar pitched 2.2 innings in relief allowing just two hits with one walk.

The Ducks were led by Ryan Finegan who had two hits including a double and scored two runs. Thomas Paulich knocked in a pair of runs while Nate Zuckerman also had two hits and scored a run. Alex Smith pitched the final two innings for the Ducks striking out three and allowing one hit.

King's began the second game strong as Andrew Steidle knocked the first pitch he saw off the wall in right center for a single. Chris Burke then put the Monarchs on the board with his fifth career home run. Burke's shot to right center gave KC their first runs of the year and a 2-0 lead for first year pitcher Jordan Stefanski who was making his collegiate debut on the mound.

Stevens used a five-run second inning to take a 5-2 lead. The Ducks used five hits and one walk to manufacture all five of their runs in the inning with four singles and a big RBI ground rule double to left. The Ducks then added to their lead in the fifth with two unearned runs.

The Monarchs began their comeback attempt in the sixth as Will Hronich and Matt Bound drew back-to-back walks before Steidle was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Burke knocked in two runs cutting the lead to 7-4 with a double down the rightfield line. That was all the Monarchs were able to score in that inning. KC cut the lead down to two runs in the seventh when Paul Helman walked, advanced to second on a ball back to the pitcher and then scored on a double to left by Matt Bound.

King's was very patience at the plate drawing 15 walks on the day while having three hit-by-pitches. Burke and Bound each had two hits in the second game and were responsible for all five RBI. On the mound Shane Beyer and Jacob Lupas were excellent in relief of Stefanski not allowing an earned run in six innings of work. Beyer put in four innings allowing just two unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Lupas picked up right where he left off last spring and was dominant over the final two innings striking out two and walking one without allowing a hit.

The Ducks were led by Zuckerman in the nightcap with two hits and two RBI. Finegan also had two RBI on one hit. Chandler Brierley started for the hosts going 4.2 innings before being relieved. He allowed two runs on four hits. Smith got the win making his second appearance of the day by throwing 1.1 innings before Anthony Pron pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn the save.

The Monarchs will be back in action next weekend against FDU-Florham. KC will face the Devils in Teaneck on Saturday starting at 11:00 AM before hosting the Devils the next day in their home opener at Lipo Field.