WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 14, 2022) -- The King's College baseball team dropped a pair of MAC Freedom games at home at Lipo Field on Thursday afternoon to the visiting Misericordia University. The Monarchs fall to 8-17 overall and 2-13 in MAC Freedom play, while the Cougars improve to 21-11 with a 11-4 in the conference with  the series sweep over the Monarchs.

Game 1 - L, 2-7:
Misericordia (21-11, 11-4 MAC Freedom) scored the first run of the game on an RBI single in the second. The Cougars then tacked on three runs on three hits in the fourth to take a  4-0 lead over the Monarchs. Another three-hit, three-run inning in the fifth saw the Cougars lead swell to 7-0, but King's (8-17, 2-13 MAC Freedom) had an answer in the bottom of the inning.

Senior Matt Bound hit a one-out double to left center, and consecutive walks from the senior pair of Andrew Steidle and Pat Noone loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly from first year Zach Day plated the first run  of the game for the Monarchs before an RBI single to left from junior Brandon Loner saw King's pull within 7-2.

A defensive battle ensued down the stretch as neither team scored in the final two innings as King's fell, 7-2, in game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.

Loner went 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Monarchs. Senior Shane Beyer recorded the loss as the starter, throwing for 4.0 innings and giving up six earned runs with three strikeouts.

Derrick Vosburg paced the Cougars as he went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles, and an RBI. Brock Bollinger drove in a team-best three RBIs on a three-run home run in the fourth. Isaac Snyder earned the win in 4.2 innings of work as he gave up two earned runs and four hits.

Game 2 - L, 5-13:
Despite recording 14 hits as a team, the Monarchs could not capitalize on their high-powered offensive performance in the game-two loss.

Misericordia exploded for seven runs on five hits in the third, but King's answered to get two runs back on four hits. Two straight singles from sophomore Gregory Ahlstrom and first year Jacob Sutton set up a sacrifice bunt from Bound. A single up the middle from Steidle drove in both base runners as the Monarchs closed within 7-2 of the Cougars through three innings.

The Cougars tacked on another run in the fourth and two in the sixth to increase their lead to 10-2. The seventh inning saw Misericordia plate three more runs on three hits to hold a 13-2 advantage before the King's offense came alive for a final comeback effort.

After some Misericordia defensive changes, Bound and Steidle started the inning with lead off singles. With two outs, Loner drove in the pair with a double to right center. Sophomore Chase Yochem put another Monarch on base before Noone drove in the final run of the game with a two-out RBI double down the left field line to post the 13-5 final in the night cap at Lipo Field.

Ahlstrom went 3-for-4 with a run, while Steidle, Loner, and Sutton all recorded two hits each. Additionally, Steidle and Loner drove in a team-high two RBIs. Junior Jeremy Huffman was awarded the loss as the starter in 2.0 innings of work, giving up five earned runs. Senior James DeNara threw well in relief, allowing just two runs on two hits and striking out four.

Joe Comins and Derrick Vosburg each recorded three hits in the win, as Vosburg and Brendan Gray drove in a team-high two RBIs each. Joe Valenti earned the win as the Cougars starter, throwing for 6.0 innings and allowing two earned runs.

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The Monarchs will enjoy the weekend break before they return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 19 for a non-conference game against Penn State Hazleton. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. at Lipo Field.