WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 25, 2022) -- The King's College baseball team plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but their comeback efforts fell just short in their 10-7 loss to FDU-Florham in MAC Freedom play at Lipo Field on Friday afternoon. With the loss, the Monarchs fall to 6-7 overall and 0-4 in conference play, while the Devils improve to 12-4 with a 4-0 MAC Freedom mark.

The Devils got on the board early, scoring twice in the first and twice in the second to take the early 4-0 lead over the Monarchs. Three FDU-Florham (12-4, 4-0 MAC Freedom) home runs in the fourth inning saw the deficit swell to 8-0 before King's (6-7, 0-4 MAC Freedom) tallied a run in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-out RBI single from first year Jacob Sutton to see the Monarchs trail, 8-1.

The visitors added another tally to the scoreboard in the sixth as the Monarchs were able to string together a solid inning, plating two runs on three hits. Juniorr Brandon Loner hit a one-out double to right center and advanced to third on a single from sophomore Brennen Schneider. Sophomore Gregory Ahlstrom delivered the first run on a double down the left field line before Schneider scored on a wild pitch to pull King's within 9-3.

FDU-Florham scored once more in the top of the seventh, and a three-up-three-down top of the eighth set up the comeback efforts for the Monarchs. Sutton reached on a hit-by-pitch, and King's turned over the lineup with two outs as senior Andrew Steidle kept the inning alive with a single to left field. Junior Pat Noone drove in the first run of the inning with a single down the left field line to set up a two-RBI double to center from first year Zach Day. Senior Seth Laky reached safely on a Devils error as Day crossed the plate to post the 10-7 final in eight innings as the game was called due to darkness.

Day, Loner, Schneider, and Ahlstrom each recorded multi-hit games for the Monarchs as part of their 13-hit effort, while Day drove in a team-high two runs. Steidle recorded the loss as the starter, allowing two earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Senior James DeNara threw well in relief, striking out six in 3.1 innings of work.

Tommy Moore led the Devils with a 4-for-5 effort at the plate, with a double, a home run, and four RBIs. Tyler Chippendale and Chris Kubas scored a team-best three runs each in the win. FDU-Florham's starter in Joseph Kastner earned the win in 6.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on nine hits.

The Monarchs are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they make the return trip to Madison, NJ to finish their MAC Freedom series with FDU-Florham beginning at noon.