GLENSIDE, PA (March 20, 2022) -- Sophomore Molly Gillette recorded doubles in each game of the doubleheader, but the King's College softball team dropped their opening MAC Freedom doubleheader by scores of 10-2 and 5-0 to the host Arcadia University on Sunday afternoon. With the losses, the Monarchs fall to 4-5 overall and 0-2 in MAC Freedom play, while the Knights improve to 10-3 for the season and 2-0 in conference action.

Game 1 - L, 2-10 (5 Innings):
King's (4-5, 0-2 MAC Freedom) struck first as they played their first softball game in 11 days as Gillette hit her first double of the day with two outs in the top of the second before coming around to score on a throwing error by the Knights shortstop, taking the early 1-0 lead. Arcadia (10-3, 2-0 MAC Freedom) responded in the bottom of the inning as they plated four runs on three hits to go up, 4-1.

The Monarchs tacked on another run in the top of the third thanks to a one-out double to right center from senior Lindsey Leppo before she advanced to third on an error by the Arcadia right fielder. Leppo was then able to score thanks to an RBI from junior Bailey Loyack to close within 4-2.

The next two innings were defensive stalemates as each team recorded just one hit entering the bottom of the fifth. It was then that the Arcadia offense came alive, recording six runs on five hits and finished the game on a walk-off double by Nathalia Diiani to post the 10-2 final in the shortened contest.

Gillette and Leppo were joined by graduate student Morgan Briggs and first year Meg Mitola with hits in the loss. Sophomore Brandi McIntosh threw all 4.2 innings for the Monarchs with three strikeouts.

Morgan Tripodi led Arcadia at the plate as she went 3-for-3, with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Brenna Dolan recorded the win for the Knights as she allowed one earned run on four hits.

Game 2 - L, 0-5:
A pitcher's duel started out the nightcap of the doubleheader as the game remained scoreless through three and a half innings of play. Each team earned just one base runner in the first three and a half innings with no hits before Arcadia broke through to score a run on two hits in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 1-0 lead over the Monarchs.

Gillette broke the no-hitter for Arcadia in the top of the fifth with a one-out double to left field and advanced to third during first year Harley Sullivan's at bat, but she was stranded in the inning as King's continued to trail, 1-0. The Knights had another big inning as they scored four on three hits in the bottom of the fifth to go up 5-0 on King's.

The defensive battle picked back up over the final stretch as Acadia failed to record a hit, while King's saw Briggs record a one-out single to center in the top of the seventh before the Monarchs fell, 5-0, in the nightcap.

Briggs and Gillette each recorded hits to cap off their days for the Monarchs. First year Emily Novicki threw well in just her second collegiate appearance, pitching all 6.0 innings for King's, allowing two earned runs on five hits, and striking out five.

Serena Goodridge led the Knights in game two with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with two RBIs. Juliana Presto earned the win in the complete seven-inning game as she allowed just two hits.

King's will host their 2022 home opener on Thursday, March 24 as they will face Gwynedd Mercy University in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Softball Field at Betlzer Athletic Complex.