WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 20, 2021) -- The pair of first years paced the King's College Monarchs to a non-conference doubleheader sweep over the visiting Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen.
Kiersten Krouse led the Monarchs to a game one win, 6-3, with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate, while
Sydney Bachman laced a three-RBI double to the right-field fence in game two for the 3-1 win over the Dutchmen.
Game 1 (W, 6-3):
The Monarchs continued their streak of strong starts, recording the first run of the game in the bottom of the first as Krouse led off with a single up-the-middle, stealing second base, and scoring on a two out RBI single to center field from senior
Morgan Briggs.
LVC tied the game in the top of the third on an RBI triple to right field from Tori Hunyara. The Dutchmen took the early 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth on a single through the left side by Lia D'Angelo.
The King's bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth as junior
Lindsey Leppo reached safely to lead off the inning on a bunt single to the pitcher before scoring on a Krouse triple to right center to tie the game, 2-2. A beautiful bunt single down the first baseline from sophomore
Bailey Loyack scored Krouse to give the Monarchs the 3-2 advantage.
King's added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth after a lead-off single from sophomore
Hannah Farr. Sophomore
Olivia Krupski's single to right field advanced Farr to third before Leppo knocked a double to left center to score the base runners. Krouse drove in the final run for King's in game one on a double to left field, giving the Monarchs a comfortable 6-2 lead with one inning left to play.
Julia Craig reached safely on a fielder's choice to add the final run of the game for the Dutchmen, pulling within three, 6-3, but a solid defensive play by junior
Kristi Ann Skok at third and a fly-out to center secured the game one win for the Monarchs.
Krouse's 4-for-4 effort led the offense for the Monarchs, as she added two stolen bases and team-high tying two RBIs and two runs. Leppo continued her hot hitting with a 2-for-3 performance with her own team-high tying two RBIs and two runs. First-year
Brandi McIntosh earned her sixth win of the season in the complete-game effort, giving up just three runs on seven hits and striking out three.
Hunyara and Jessica Truitt paced the Dutchmen, both going 2-for-4. Jordan Walter recorded the loss as the LVC starter, pitching 5.1 innings and giving up six earned runs on nine Monarchs hits.
Game 2 (W, 3-1):
In the fast-paced game two, it was the Dutchmen who struck first on an RBI single through the left side from Danni Holmes in the top of the second to give LVC the early 1-0 lead.
King's responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning on a lead-off double to center field from Skok. She advanced to third on a one-out single to right field from sophomore
Gabrielle Visconti. First-year
Celeste Portigiani loaded the bases with a two-out walk before Bachman knocked in all three base runners to give King's the 3-1 lead that would hold for the remainder of the contest.
Both teams recorded just four hits in the final innings of action as the Monarchs secured the non-conference doubleheader sweep over the visiting Dutchmen.
Seven different Monarchs recorded a hit in the win, including a double from Briggs. Leppo also added a stolen base for the hosts. Visconti totaled the complete seven inning game as the Monarchs starter, giving up just one unearned run on six hits.
Six Dutchmen added hits in the game two loss, and Hunyara added a stolen base. Sarah Musselman took the loss as the LVC starter, throwing all six innings of play and giving up the three earned runs on seven hits.
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The Monarchs will return to Betzler Field on Saturday as they host Lycoming College in non-conference action to celebrate senior day. Game one is set for 12:00 p.m. for the doubleheader.
