SELINSGROVE, PA (April 14, 2022) -- A five-run comeback effort in the top of the sixth in game one led the King's College softball team to a doubleheader split on the road at Susquehanna University in non-conference play on Thursday afternoon. King's earned the win in game one, 5-4, before falling 4-2 in game two with the River Hawks. The Monarchs improve to 14-7 overall, and the River Hawks stand at 14-6.

Game 1 - W, 5-4:
A valiant comeback effort in the top of the sixth for the Monarchs secured the win in game one of the non-conference road contest.

Susquehanna (14-6) struck first as they plated three runs on four hits to take the early 3-0 lead. The River Hawks tallied another run in the fourth on two more hits to hold the 4-0 advantage. Each team recorded a hit in the fifth before setting up the exciting sixth inning for King's (14-7).

Junior Bailey Loyack got the offense started with a leadoff double to left field and advanced to third on a single to right field from sophomore Molly Gillette. After a fielder's choice during first year Harley Sullivan's at bat and some River Hawks defensive changes, sophomore Sydney Bachman walked to load the bases with two outs.

Junior Hannah Farr delivered the Monarchs first runs of the game with a two-out, two-RBI double down the right field line. A single to left field from junior Olivia Krupski allowed another run to cross before a double to left center from sophomore Kiersten Krouse gave the Monarchs the 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.

First year pitcher Emily Novicki and the King's defense took care of business in the final two innings as both the sixth and seventh innings were three-up-three-down innings from Susquehanna as the Monarchs secured the 5-4 non-conference win in game one with the River Hawks.

Krouse and Loyack led King's with two hits each, as Krouse and Farr drove in a team-high two RBIs. Novicki picked up the win in the complete seven-inning game, allowing four earned runs with five strikeouts.

Hannah Roland led Susquehanna with a 2-for-3 effort with a run and an RBI, while Kiara Bryant totaled a team-best two RBIs in the loss. Gabby Bubba recorded the loss as the starter, throwing 5.2 innings and giving up five earned runs on nine hits.

Game 2 - L, 2-4:
A late rally in the top of the seventh came up short as the Monarchs dropped the nightcap of the non-conference doubleheader.

The River Hawks took advantage of some early offense again as they scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Two hits and a Monarchs error in the third allowed another Susquehanna run to cross as King's trailed, 3-0. A double in the sixth plated the final run of the game for the hosts as the Monarchs faced a 4-0 deficit heading into the final inning of play.

King's staged a valiant comeback effort thanks to back-to-back lead off singles from graduate student Morgan Briggs and first year Harley Sullivan. A wild pitch moved up the runners before Farr drove them both in with an RBI single up the middle. A head's up defensive play by the River Hawks ended the late comeback as King's fell, 4-2, in game two of the non-conference doubleheader.

Krouse went 2-for-3 with a stolen base to lead King's in the loss, while Farr drove in both runs for the Monarchs. Sophomore Brandi McIntosh recorded the loss in the circle as she gave up three earned runs in 6.0 innings of work with two strikeouts.

Erin Bean paced the River Hawks in the win as she went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Katie Murphy earned her ninth win of the season as she allowed two earned runs in 7.0 innings.

--

King's will take some well-deserved rest over the weekend before returning to play on Monday, April 18 in a non-conference matchup with the University of Scranton. Game one is set for a 4:00 p.m. start time in Scranton, Pa.