GLENSIDE, PA (April 9, 2021) -- Senior Mindina Lieback launched a solo home run in game one at Blankely Field to secure the 1-0 victory in game one as the King's College softball team split the doubleheader at the host Arcadia University Knights on Friday afternoon in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. With the split, the Monarchs improve to 12-6 on the season.

Game 1 (W, 1-0):
The opening game of the series was a true pitcher's duel, as Arcadia (9-3, 6-2 MAC Freedom) recorded just one hit in each of the first four innings while the Monarchs only hit came in the top of the fourth as Lieback sent one-and-one count out of the park to secure the win, 1-0, over the Knights.

Lieback, sophomore Bailey Loyack, and first-year Kiersten Krouse recorded the three Monarchs hits in the win, as Krouse also added a stolen base. Graduate student Kris Kocher secured the win pitching the complete-game shut out to improve to 4-1 on the season, giving up just six hits and striking out six.

Alex DeStefano led the Knights offense with a 2-for-3 effort and adding a stolen base. Kylee Schwind recorded the loss, pitching all seven innings and giving up the one run on just three hits.

Game 2 (L, 2-6):
Each team recorded a hit in the second inning of play before the offenses started stringing together hits in game two of the doubleheader in Glenside. The Knights struck first, plating two in the bottom of the third on RBIs from Madi Costigan and Alexis Burge, giving the hosts the early 2-0 lead.

King's posted their two runs of the game thanks to back-to-back two-out doubles from junior Kristi Ann Skok and sophomore Gabrielle Visconti and an RBI single from sophomore Hannah Farr tied the game, 2-2, heading to the bottom of the fourth.

Arcadia regained the lead, 3-2, with a lead-off home run from Megan Sooy in the bottom of the inning. Two more insurance runs crossed for the Knights in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from Jackie Zwicker and an RBI double from Brooke Ward. The Monarchs got their lead-off runner on in the top of the seventh as Farr singled to center field, but the Knights defense was able to hold off the late efforts from the Monarchs as they secured the win, 6-2, to split the doubleheader.

Farr was perfect in game two, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Skok had a solid 2-for-3 effort and adding a run. Lieback and Visconti posted the other hits for King's in the loss. First-year Brandi McIntosh dropped to 4-2, throwing all six innings, giving up six runs on 10 hits, and striking out three.

Sooy led the Knights with her own 3-for-3 game, while Costigan and Ward both went 2-for-3 with Ward adding two double, two RBIs, and a run. Juliana Presto earned the win for Arcadia in the complete game effort, giving up just two runs on seven hits.

The Monarchs return to play tomorrow afternoon as they host Arcadia in the second half of the home-and-home MAC Freedom series at Betzler Athletic Complex. Game one is set for 1:00 p.m. in Wilkes-Barre, PA.