WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 14, 2021) -- The King's College baseball team battled Stevens Institute of Technology on the diamond Wednesday afternoon at Lipo Field falling to the Ducks by a score of 12-8.

Stevens (13-6) entered the game second in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) and with the Monarchs (4-11) currently in seventh King's could see the Ducks again in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament. The Monarchs offense, which has struggled as of late, broke out of their slump a little bit scoring eight runs on 15 hits. Both are the most for KC since defeating Delaware Valley 9-1 on March 21. The 15 hits are also the second-most this year by King's.

The Ducks struck first with a pair of runs in the first inning but King's came right back in the bottom of the inning with three runs of their own. KC loaded the bases as Matt Dobeck singled up the middle, Pat Noone doubled to left center, and then Chris Burke was walked. Matt Mellinger knocked in a run with a single to right and two batters later Brendan Mozeleski tied the game up with a bases-loaded walk. Andrew Steidle gave King's the lead with a single up the middle on a 1-0 pitch.

The Monarchs scored four more runs in the second inning with two outs as Burke beat out a grounder to short and then Mellinger singled to right to advance Burke to third. Burke scored on a fielding error and then Seth Laky doubled to right center scoring two runs and giving the Monarchs a 6-2 lead.

The Ducks put the first two batters of the third on base and back-to-back doubles with two outs scored three runs to cut the lead down to 6-5. Stevens took the lead in the fourth with a single up the middle, a double down the line, and then a two RBI single to center. They increased the lead to 9-6 in the fifth with two runs on a pair of doubles after a hit by pitch and a stolen base.

King's responded in the sixth with two runs to cut the lead down to 9-8. Burke led off with a double down the line in left, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored when Mellinger hit a ball to second that was thrown away. Mellinger scored from second later in the inning on a Mozeleski single.

Stevens used a big three-run seventh to score some insurance runs. The Ducks loaded the bases and scored two runs on a single down the first baseline and then another run on a sacrifice fly to center where the runner just beat the throw to the plate.

The Monarchs did not go away quietly as they made things interesting in the ninth. Noah Adams hit a pinch hit single to right center and Pat Noone singled up the middle to put runners on first and second with two outs for Burke. Stevens brought in their closer with the tying run on deck who got Burke to hit a grounder to short for the final out of the game.

Burke had a monster game in his return to the lineup going 3-5 with a walk and three runs scored. Noone also had three hits and scored a run. Mellinger had a big day with two hits, two RBI, and two runs scored. Dobeck was King's fourth multi-hit batter of the day with two hits and a run scored. Laky and Mozeleski knocked in two runs each.

Jacob Lupas got the start in a planned staff day for the Monarchs pitching 2.2 innings. He allowed five runs on five hits with one walk before being relieved by James DeNara. DeNara threw two innings and allowed four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Landon LaBar closed out the final 4.1 innings on the hill and allowed just three runs, two earned on just two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

King's will close out the homestand on Saturday with a doubleheader against local rival Misericordia University. The Monarchs will host the Cougars on Saturday at Lipo Field beginning at 12 pm before making the short trip up to Dallas on Sunday for two games at Tambur Field also beginning at 12.