WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 26, 2022) -- In a thrilling MAC Freedom doubleheader amid inclement weather, the King's College softball team swept FDU-Florham by scores of 5-2 and 9-8 on Saturday afternoon at the Betzler Softball Field. With the wins, the Monarchs improve to 8-5 overall and 2-2 in MAC Freedom play, while the Devils fall to 6-6 and 2-2 in conference action.

Game 1 - W, 5-2:
FDU-Florham (6-6, 2-2 MAC Freedom) got on the board with two early runs in the first, but King's (8-5, 2-2 MAC Freedom) got one back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly from junior Bailey Loyack. Sophomore Kiersten Krouse then delivered an RBI double to left center in the second to tie the game at two runs each. 

Both teams recorded three total hits over the next two innings before the Monarchs broke through in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a one-out walk from junior Gabrielle Visconti and a two-out RBI double from first year Harley Sullivan to give the Monarchs the 3-2 lead. Graduate student Morgan Briggs drove in two security runs on a single to center field in the bottom of the sixth as King's secured the 5-2 win in game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.

Krouse led the Monarchs with a perfect 4-for-4 effort at the plate and a team high two runs and a stolen base as part of the Monarchs 10-hit effort in the win. Sullivan was also perfect as she went 2-for-2, and Briggs drove in a team-high two RBIs. Sophomore Brandi McIntosh secured the win in the complete 7.0 inning game, allowing just two earned runs and striking out five.

Dana Giardina led the Devils with two hits, including a double. Ciara Hoffmann recorded the loss in all 6.0 innings of work, giving up 10 hits and four earned runs.

Game 2 - W, 9-8 (Called in the 6^th Due to Darkness):
The Devils offense was firing in the first two innings as they jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. The Monarchs tacked one on in the bottom of the second on a solo home run from sophomore Molly Gillette, the first of her career, to bring King's within three, 4-1.

FDU-Florham got one back in the third to take a 5-1 advantage, but King's plated three on three hits in the bottom of the inning as Loyack drove in one with a two-out double to right field, Sullivan singled through the left side to add another tally, and Visconti doubled to right field to bring in the final run with King's trailing 5-4.

After a quick fourth inning, King's exploded for five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fifth as they batted through the order to take a commanding 9-5 lead. Leppo worked a lead off walk and stole second, before Loyack reached on a single through the left side and promptly stole second to put runners in scoring position. Sullivan drove both in with a double off the left field fence to take the 6-5 lead. First year Emily Novicki drove in another run, and after a pitching change by the Devils the Monarchs recorded three straight singles from junior Hannah Farr, sophomore Sydney Bachman, and Krouse to pull ahead, 9-5.

With the end of the game in sight due to darkness, the Devils had one final chance to even the score, adding three tallies in the top of the sixth. Their comeback efforts came up short as King's earned the 9-8 victory and the MAC Freedom doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon.

Krouse, Loyack, and Sullivan all posted two hits in the win, with Sullivan driving in a team-high three runs. Loyack and Gillette each scored twice to lead King's. Novicki pitched the complete 6.0 inning game to earn the win with just six earned runs and two strikeouts.

Morgan DeLoreto and Kristina Pelano each recorded two hits in the loss, with DeLoreto driving in three runs. Bianca DiSanto recorded the loss as the starter in 4.2 innings, giving up seven hits and eight earned runs.

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The Monarchs will be back in action on Monday, March 28 as they travel to the University of Scranton with first pitch set for 4:00 p.m.