WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 10, 2021) -- Senior Gabriella Medina laid down the perfect bunt, and sophomore Hannah Farr was safe at the plate as the King's College softball team won, 2-1, in 10 innings in game two in a home thriller in front of the first home crowd of the 2021 season. The Monarchs split the doubleheader, dropping game one, 8-0, to post the series split with the Arcadia University Knights. King's improves to 13-7 for the season in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play.

Game 1 (L, 0-8, 6 Innings):
King's struggled to string together hits in game one, recording just four in the six inning-game. Game one started quiet, just as the previous two games in the series, before Arcadia (10-4) plated four runs on five hits in the top of the 3rd inning to lead 4-0 over the Monarchs.

Another run crossed for the Knights in the fourth before they added two in the fifth and the final run in the top of the sixth to finish the shortened game, 8-0, in just six innings in the opener.

Sophomore April Bonwit led the Monarchs offense, going 2-for-3, while seniors Mindina Lieback and Morgan Briggs recorded the other two hits, including a double from Biggs, in the game for King's. Sophomore Gabrielle Visconti recorded the loss as the Monarchs started, pitching four innings and giving up just five earned runs on nine hits.

Kayla Psolka led the Knights with a 3-for-4 effort, including a double and two RBIs. Kylee Schwind earned the win in the circle as the starter, pitching 3.1 innings and giving up just four hits in the shutout.

Game 2 (W, 2-1, 10 Innings):
The second game was an instant classic from the start. There was just one hit in the first two innings of play before Arcadia plated their lone run of the game in the top of the third after Effie Jamanis reached on a lead-off double and scored on a sacrifice fly from Madi Costigan.

The Monarchs responded in the bottom of the inning, plating their run of regulation after a two-out single from junior Lindsey Leppo started the rally. Leppo then advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a throwing error from the Knights' catcher, before a single through the left side from first-year Kiersten Krouse scored Leppo to tie the game, 1-1, after three innings of play.

Each team recorded just two hits over the next three innings before Arcadia got two hits and put a runner on third with just one out in the top of the seventh. The Knights threatened to score the go-ahead run, but back-to-back ground outs kept the game tied and sent the game into extra innings.

Both teams advanced runners to third in the eighth, but solid defensive efforts from both teams held the game at the tie. Back-to-back singles through the left side with two outs from the Knights gave the visitors another chance to secure the win, but a fly out to Lieback in center silenced the threat.

The game went to the tenth inning, which placed a runner on second for both teams to start the inning. The Knights advanced Morgan Tripodi to third with a lead-off sacrifice bunt before back-to-back ground outs held Tripodi at third to add another zero to the scoring column for Arcadia.

Farr was placed at second base with the international tie-breaker rule, and first-year Sydney Bachman advanced Farr to third with a sacrifice bunt. Medina came up to the plate and laid down a beautiful bunt back to the pitcher on a bunt-and-run situation as Farr slid into home safely to secure the win, 2-1, in 10 innings in the final game of the series.

Four different Monarchs recorded hits in the win, including Krouse, Bonwit, Leppo, and Medina, with Krouse and Medina recording the team's two RBIs and Leppo and Farr recording the team's two runs. Krouse and Visconti also recorded stolen bases in the win. First-year Brandi McIntosh earned the extra-inning win, pitching all 10 innings, giving up just one run on nine hits and striking out four.

Costigan and Alexa Vardiman led Arcadia, both going 2-for-4 including a double from Vardiman, in the loss. Juliana Presto took the loss in relief, pitching the final 3.1 innings of play and giving up the winning run.

The Monarchs return to play next weekend as they travel up the mountain to face the Misericordia University Cougars in their final MAC Freedom series of the season on April 17. The first half of the home-and-home series at Misericordia is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. in Dallas, Pa.