WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 22, 2022) -- With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Gregory Ahlstrom found a gap in right center to drive in the winning run and lift the King's College baseball team over Penn State Schuylkill, 7-6, on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference play at Lipo Field. The Monarchs improve to 6-5 overall, while the Nittany Lions fall to 1-4.

Penn State Schuylkill (1-4) got on the board first in the matchup as they scored twice in the opening stanza on an RBI double to center field, but the Monarchs defense held off any remaining runs with three straight outs as they trailed, 2-0. A defensive battle ensued as neither team could string together hits before King's (6-5) got their bats going in the fifth.

After narrowly missing scoring opportunities in the first few innings, the Monarchs broke through thanks to a lead off single from Ahlstrom. Junior Will Hronich worked a walk, and both runners advanced on a wild pitch to set up an RBI single through the left side by senior Andrew Steidle. Loner drove in Hronich with one out to tie the game, 2-2, after five innings of play.

Despite a leadoff single from the Nittany Lions in the top of the sixth, the Monarchs recorded three quick outs on solid defensive plays to set up a thrilling bottom half of the inning. Back-to-back singles from first year Zach Day and sophomore Brennen Schneider put runners on with no outs. A sacrifice bunt from junior Pat Noone moved up the runners, as Day scored on a wild pitch. Consecutive doubles from Ahlstrom and Hronich scored tacked on two more runs to see the King's lead swell to 5-2.

The Nittany Lions responded in the top of the seventh as they plated two on four hits, including a two-RBI single with no outs, to close within one, 5-4. A one-out double and a wild pitch in the top of the seventh tallied two more runs for the visitors as they took the lead, 6-5.

King's had a shot to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, but a great relay in the infield threw out the Monarch runner at the plate as Penn State Schuylkill maintained their 6-5 advantage.

Junior Jeremy Huffman made quick work in the top of the ninth, retiring three out of four batters faced in the inning, as the Monarchs had one more opportunity to secure the win. Sophomore Stewart Caladie got the inning started by reaching safely before pinch runner Joey Fancera advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior Seth Laky, then on to third on a throwing error by the Nittany Lion's first baseman.

An RBI single to left field from Day drove in the tying run, then a Penn State Schuylkill error and a walk from senior Matt Bound loaded the bases with just one out. Ahlstrom stepped up to the plate as he delivered the winning run with a single to the gap in right center as the Monarchs earned the walk-off win, 7-6, in non-conference play.

Ahlstrom went 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs in the win, while Steidle and Day each added multi-hit games. Schneider threw well as the Monarchs starter, allowing just three earned runs in 6.0 innings of work, while Huffman earned the win as the closer in 2.0 innings, giving up one earned run on one hit and striking out two.

Evan Kosar led the Nittany Lions as he recorded a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. The Penn State Schuylkill closer in Ryan Culbert was awarded the loss as he gave up the final two runs of the game on two hits in 0.1 recorded innings.

The Monarchs are slated to play their fourth game in three days as they host Marywood University in non-conference action at Lipo Field tomorrow, March 23 at 4:00 p.m.