WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 24, 2021) -- Each senior made their mark on their final regular season appearances in the red and golf, as Kris Kocher, Gabriella Medina, Mindina Lieback, and Kristi Ann Skok helped lead the King's College softball team to the doubleheader sweep over the visiting Lycoming College Warriors. The Monarchs posted the 8-1 win in game one and 8-7 thriller in game two at Betzler as they improved to 18-10 overall heading into the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) playoffs, beginning next weekend.

Game 1 (W, 8-1):
The Monarchs kicked off their strong offensive efforts tacking on a run as first-year Kiersten Krouse singled through the left side, stole second base, and worked her way around to score during sophomore Bailey Loyack's at bat, giving King's the early 1-0 lead.

Krouse kept up the hot hitting in the bottom of the third with a one-out single through the left side before scoring on a double to left center from senior Mindina Lieback. Then Loyack delivered again with her first career home run with a rocket to left center, pushing the Monarchs lead to 4-0.

Two more crossed in the bottom of the fifth as Krouse started the string of Monarchs hits with a one-out single to left field before stealing second. Lieback reached safely on a Warrior's error before back-to-back doubles from Loyack and junior Kristi Ann Skok plated three runs, giving King's the comfortable 7-0 advantage.

Lycoming plated their lone run of the game in the top of the sixth on a double to left field from Kacee Reitz, but the Monarchs had an immediate response in the bottom of the inning as sophomore Olivia Krupski scored on a two-out RBI double from Krouse, as the Monarchs defense delivered in the top of the seventh to post the game one final score, 8-1, over the visiting Warriors.

Krouse had another stellar 4-for-4 effort at the plate with a team-high three runs, an RBI, and two stolen bases, while Loyack added a 2-for-3 day with a team-high four RBIs and two runs. Seniors Lieback, Skok, and Medina all delivered a hit on their senior day, as Lieback added two runs and Skok added two RBIs. Kocher was solid all game o earned the win in the complete-game effort, allowing just one run on six hits and tossing seven strikeouts.

Madalyn Bechdel led the Warriors, going 2-for-4 with a double, and scoring the lone run for the visitors. Angie King recorded the loss as the Warriors starter, pitching three innings and giving up four runs on four Monarchs hits.

Game 2 (W, 8-7):
The Warriors struck first in game two, plating two runs on singles from Morgan Klosko and Rachel DeWolfe as they held the lead early, 2-0, over the Monarchs. King's responded in the bottom half of the inning, getting two off a home run to right field from Skok and a third on an RBI single from sophomore Gabrielle Visconti to take the 3-2 lead after just one inning of play.

Lycoming continued to string together some timely hits, as they added three more runs in the top of the second on singles from Kylie Russell and Klosko and a fielder's choice from Reitz to lead the hosts 5-3.

Some solid defensive efforts by both teams made for a quick three innings before the Monarchs offense took their turn to put together a solid offensive inning. Krouse kick started the effort with a leadoff double to right field in the bottom of the fifth, scoring on a single to right center from Lieback. Lieback advanced to third on a double to left center from Loyack, as both runners scored on a Lycoming fielding error to take back the lead, 6-5. Visconti delivered again with a triple to left center to score sophomore April Bonwit before crossing the plate on an RBI single to right center from senior Morgan Briggs, pushing the Monarchs lead to 8-5 with just two innings to go.

The visitors would not go down without a fight in the final inning, scoring two to pull within one with runners on first and third with two outs, but Visconti delivered the final blow, ending the game with a strikeout to secure the game two win, 8-7, for the Monarchs.

Loyack, Skok, and Visconti led the Monarchs offense in game two with two hits apiece in the 12-hit effort, with Loyack adding two runs and Skok and Visconti adding two RBIs. Bonwit also added a team-high tying two runs and two RBIs. First year Celeste Portigiani recorded her first collegiate hit with a single in the bottom of the fourth, and first year Molly Gillette got her first collegiate appearance as the starter in the circle, totaling 4.1 innings and a strikeout. Visconti recorded her sixth win of the season in relief, tossing 2.2 innings of action and giving up just two runs on four hits. 

Bechdel completed a strong offensive day to lead the Warriors with a 3-for-4 game two, adding two runs and an RBI. Klosko and DeWolfe also added two hits each as part of Lycoming's 13 team hits. Payton Whary took the game-two loss, pitching all six innings and giving up four earned runs on 12 hits.

--

King's softball will be off for the week as they prepare for the quarterfinals of the 2021 MAC Freedom Championships. The Monarchs secured the fourth seed in the playoffs and will host Lycoming for the best-of-three series on Saturday, May 1 with game one set for 12:00 p.m. at Betzler Athletic Complex.