NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 6, 2022) -- The King's College softball team opened their trip down to North Myrtle Beach, SC and their 2022 season with a bang on Sunday as they totaled 27 runs in their first two games, winning both contests to start the season 2-0. The Monarchs defeated La Roche 13-1 in just five innings in the opener before rallying in the top of the seventh to defeat Centenary University 14-6 in the nightcap.

vs. La Roche - W, 13-1 (5 Innings):
La Roche (1-1) struck first in the top of the first on an RBI triple to center field, but that would be the lone run of the game for the Redhawks.

King's (1-0) struck four times in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore Kiersten Krouse and senior Lindsey Leppo worked back-to-back walks. Junior Bailey Loyack drove in the first run of the season for the Monarchs, and Leppo scored on a wild pitch during the next at bat to give King's the 2-1 lead. Junior Hannah Farr and sophomore Molly Gillette both drove in runs to put the Monarchs ahead, 4-1.

Another thrilling inning in the second plated five runs on three hits. Junior Olivia Krupski led off with a walk and advanced to third on a double from Krouse. Back-to-back La Roche errors saw three runs cross to put King's up, 7-1. An RBI single from junior Gabrielle Visconti scored another before Visconti worked her way around the base paths to score herself as the Monarchs led, 9-1, after two innings of play.

The King's defense forced another three-and-out from the Redhawks before the bats scored three more runs off of just one hit in the bottom of the third. The Monarchs worked three consecutive walks to load the bases and tacked on another run on a La Roche error. Visconti delivered again with a one-out single through the left side that scored two, giving King's a sparkling 12-1 advantage after three complete innings.

The Monarchs would score one more run in the bottom of the fourth as Krouse worked her way around and eventually scored on a wild pitch. King's retired the next three out of four batters in the bottom of the fifth to post the 13-1 final in their 2022 opener in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic on Sunday afternoon.

Krouse and Visconti led King's in the opener, as Krouse went 2-for-2 with four runs, two walks, and a stolen base. Visconti matched her 2-for-2 effort, adding three RBIs, two runs, and a walk. Leppo, Loyack, Farr, and first year Meg Mitola all recorded hits in the win, while Leppo and Krupski each scored twice. Sophomore Brandi McIntosh was stellar in the complete five-inning game, securing the win as she gave up just one earned run on one hit and struck out five.

Kelly Denk recorded the lone hit of the game for La Roche, while starting pitcher Ashtin Hoover recorded the loss in 2.0 innings, allowing seven earned runs on six hits.

vs. Centenary (NJ) - W, 14-6:
A hot start in this contest saw both teams plate runs in the first three innings before the defensive efforts stepped up to hold both teams scoreless over the next three. The Monarchs had the final say as they saw nine runs cross the plate in the top of the seventh as they secured the 14-6 victory over the Cyclones on Sunday night.

King's (2-0) struck first in the top of the first as they carried their momentum from game one. An RBI triple from Loyack followed by an RBI single from graduate student Morgan Briggs gave the Monarchs the early 2-0 advantage. Centenary (0-4) tacked one on in the bottom of the inning to close the deficit to just 2-1 in favor of the Monarchs.

Another two were added to the scoreboard in the top of the second as Leppo laced a triple to the right center fence before she scored during Loyack's at bat. The Cyclones responded with a solid performance in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs off just two hits, to tie the game, 5-5.

The Monarchs went cold in the third before Centenary took their first lead of the game, 6-5, thanks to a two-out single to right center.

Both teams saw their defensive efforts tighten up over the next three innings as just two players safely reached third in those three innings of play.

The offensive onslaught from the Monarchs was personified in their efforts as they scored nine runs on five hits to take a commanding 14-6 lead. Loyack, Visconti, sophomore Sydney Bachman, Krouse, and Leppo all recorded hits in the stretch as King's bats came alive at the right time. A quick three-and-out in the bottom of the seventh that ended with a strikeout from first year Emily Novicki secured the 14-6 victory over Centenary in the second game of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic on Sunday night.

Krouse and Leppo both put together 3-for-5 efforts at the plate at the win, as Krouse added two runs and two RBIs and Leppo connected for three runs, three RBIs, a double, a triple and two stolen bases. Loyack also had another solid performance with two hits, two runs, two RBIs, and two steals, while Briggs, Visconti, Bachman, and Novicki all recorded a hit in the win. Novicki recorded her first collegiate win in the circle for the Monarchs, pitching the complete seven-inning thriller, giving up just one earned run and striking out eight.

Jenna Glinko led Centenary at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs. The Cyclones' starter in Julia Campen recorded the loss in 6.0 innings of work, totaling seven earned runs on 10 hits.

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King's will be back in action tomorrow, March 7, at 11:30 and 5:30 against Gettysburg in the opener and Marymount in the night cap to continue in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, SC.