AMBLER, PA (March 18, 2022) -- Despite two doubles on two hits from first year Zach Day, the King's College baseball team dropped their MAC Freedom opener, 11-6, on the road at Arcadia University on Friday afternoon. The Monarchs  drop to 5-3 overall and 0-1 in MAC Freedom play, while the Knights improve to 12-2 and 1-0 in the conference.

Arcadia (12-2, 1-0 MAC Freedom) started the game firing on all cylinders on their return from their spring trip to plate three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first.

King's (5-3, 0-1 MAC Freedom) got one back in the top of the third thanks to consecutive two-out singles from senior Andrew Steidle and sophomore Brennen Schneider. A passed ball scored Steidle to put the Monarchs on the board and close the deficit to just 3-1. The Knights tacked on three more in the bottom half of the inning as they pushed their lead to 6-1 thanks to three hits in the inning.

The teams traded runs in the fourth as King's got a leadoff double from junior Brandon Loner as he worked his way around to score on an RBI from sophomore Gregory Ahlstrom, while the Knights used a sacrifice fly to plate their run with the hosts leading, 7-2.

The Monarchs bats came alive in the fifth as they tallied four runs on two hits. After back-to-back walks from sophomore Aaron Mason and senior Matt Bound, Schneider delivered a run with a one-out single to center field before a wild pitch scored the second run of the inning. Day laced his two-out double to left center to drive in the final two runs of the innings to close within one, 7-6.

Solid defensive efforts by both teams set up the Knights to post their own four-run inning that proved costly for the Monarchs as they trailed, 11-6, after six innings of play. The defensive battle to end the game ensued as both teams recorded just two hits each between the seventh and eighth inning.

King's had one last shot at extending the game in the top of the ninth. A one-out double from sophomore Chase Yochem followed by a single from Loner put runners on the corners, but the relief pitching efforts by the Knights sealed the win as they handed the Monarchs the 11-6 loss on Friday afternoon at Skip Wilson Field.

Schneider led the Monarchs as he went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored in the loss. Loner and Day each had multi-hit games for King's, as Day drove in a team-high two RBIs. As a team the Monarchs recorded 10 hits, including five doubles. Steidle recorded the loss as the starter, throwing 4.0 innings, giving up six earned runs, and striking out three. Senior Shane Beyer threw well in relief as he allowed four runs and struck out two in 4.0 innings of work.

Arcadia was led by Alex Madera and Connor Cheeseman who each recorded three hits in the win. Carson Denham earned the win in relief, throwing for 3.1 innings, and giving up just two hits with no runs scored.

The Monarchs will be back in action on Sunday due to impending weather to finish the three-game MAC Freedom series, hosting Arcadia for the doubleheader starting at noon at Lipo Field.