WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 12, 2021) -- Seth Laky blasted his first career home run while Brennen Schneider and Brandon Moffitt combined for seven innings of scoreless relief in two hard fought losses to Wilkes University on Monday afternoon at Lipo Field.

The visiting Colonels (11-9) won the opener 5-2 and then used a six-run fourth to defeat the Monarchs (4-10) 6-3 in the nightcap.

King's scored first in both games starting with two first inning runs in the opener. Pat Noone hit a 2-0 pitch to the hole at short for an infield single and then Matt Mellinger knocked the first pitch he saw into center to put runners on first and second with one out. Cole Keating knocked in the first run of the game with a single through the left side as Mellinger race around to third. He was rewarded for his base running when Noah Adams hit a deep sacrifice fly to center giving the Monarchs a 2-0 lead.

The Colonels responded with two runs on five hits to even the score in the second. Wilkes manufactured both of their runs with all singles and just one walk. They took the lead the next inning as they scored two unearned runs taking advantage of a KC error to lead off the inning. Three straight singles to begin the fifth scored their fifth and final run of the game.

Schneider entered the game after the first two hitters got on base in the inning and after a single to left center, the first year allowed just two more hits in three innings of work. He got the final nine batters out with five flyouts and four grounders that included a big double play up the middle to Joshua Baiera at short to end the sixth inning. King's had a chance to tie the game in the seventh as Adams walked and Cole Heitzman was hit by a pitch to begin the inning. Andrew Indzonka got the next three hitters out to end the game.

In the second game King's got a lot of momentum going early as Andrew Steidle made a great diving catch in center field to save at least one run from scoring and end the second inning. Three pitches later Laky blasted his first career homer down the left field line giving the Monarchs the lead.

The score stayed that way until the fourth when Wilkes used a big seven-hit inning to score six runs and take their largest lead of the day. The Colonels scored on five consecutive at-bats in the inning after loading the bases.

King's fought back with two runs in the seventh inning to cut the deficit down to 6-3. Andrew Steidle and Matt Bound walked and then scored on a Matt Dobeck single to left that the Wilkes fielder misplayed.

Brandon Moffitt was excellent in relief pitching four innings of one-hit ball with just one walk and three strikeouts. He faced 14 batters throwing 45 pitches and got six groundouts and three flyouts.
At the plate Dobeck had two hits in the second game and Mellinger added another hit to give him two on the day, one in each game.

The Monarchs will look to rebound from the tough losses on Wednesday with a single nine inning game against Stevens Institute of Technology. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm at Lipo Field.