WINTER HAVEN, FL (March 8, 2022) -- A dominant performance at the plate by the King's College baseball team as they recorded 15 hits in the shortened seven-inning game to earn a 12-1 win over Trine University on Tuesday morning at the Chain O'Lakes Complex. With the win, the Monarchs improve their win streak to three games with a 3-1 record to start 2022, while the Thunder falls to 2-5.

King's (3-1) struck first as they plated three runs when junior Brandon Loner doubled to right field to drive in sophomore Chase Yochem and senior Andrew Steidle. Loner worked his way around before scoring thanks to first year Zach Day's RBI to put the Monarchs ahead, 3-0 to start the game. Trine (2-5) tacked one on in the bottom of inning on an RBI single with no outs, but the Monarchs defense held the Thunder at bay to keep the score at 3-1.

Steidle drove in a run to get the rally going in the second. Another single from Yochem plated another before a sacrifice fly from Loner allowed senior Matt Bound to score to double the Monarchs run total, posting a 6-1 lead.

A quick defensive inning in the bottom of the second set up King's for a two-out rally in the top of third. Sophomore Gregory Ahlstrom hit a two-out single to third before scoring on a double from Bound. A third-straight hit in the inning to plate Bound, pushing the King's lead to 8-1.

Neither team found a rhythm in the next three innings before King's sealed the deal in the top of the seventh as Noone earned a base as he was hit by a pitch. Back-to-back singles from Ahlstrom and Bound added another run to the lead before Steidle hit the final dagger with a rocket to left field, recording the first home run of the season for Monarchs baseball to post a dominant 12-1 lead.

King's held the momentum in the final inning as they allowed just one hit in the final inning to hold off a Thunder comeback to record the 12-1 win in the shortened seven-inning game.

Steidle posted an impressive 3-for-4 performance with five RBIs and two runs, and Yochem went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Loner drove in three RBI, adding two hits, while Ahlstrom and Bound tallied team-high three runs each. Senior Shane Beyer earned the win on the mound in relief as he went four innings, allowing just three hits with no runs and striking out three.

Dalton Nikirk and Tyler Robinson both recorded two hits in the loss, while Hunter Niksch recorded the loss as the starter in just one inning of work, giving up six runs on three hits.

The Monarchs will enjoy the day off tomorrow before returning to play on Thursday night against Albion College at 6:30 p.m. at the Lake Myrtle Sports Park.