WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 20, 2022) -- The Monarchs plated five runs in the first inning and recorded 13 hits for the game as the King's College baseball team earned a decisive 10-3 win over the visiting St. Joseph's University-Brooklyn in non-conference play on Wednesday afternoon at Lipo Field. The Monarchs improve to 9-17 overall and earn their first win on their home field since March 22, while the Bears fall to 4-21.

King's (9-17) made quick work of St. Joseph's-Brooklyn (4-21) in the top of the first as they retired all three batters faced. Their bats got hot to start the game as senior Andrew Steidle knocked a lead off double to left center. A one-out double to left from first year Zach Day drove in Steidle before a single to left center and smart base running from junior Brandon Loner put two runners in scoring position.

Sophomore Chase Yochem loaded the bases as he was hit by a pitch, and senior Seth Laky plated the second run of the game with a one-out walk. Junior Pat Noone delivered two more runs with a double to left center before sophomore Gregory Ahlstrom was hit by a pitch to load the bases again and chase the Bears starter. After the pitching change, senior Matt Bound drove in the final run of the inning as King's took the early 5-0 lead.

Both pitchers and defenses settled in as there were just three total hits recorded over the next three innings before the Bears got on the board in the top of the fifth, scoring one run on two hits to pull within 5-1.

Each team had a chance to plate runs in their next at bats, but the respective pitchers put a stop to the inning each time.

King's got their offense going again in the bottom of the sixth as they scored three runs on four hits. Bound got on with a lead off single to left field and promptly stole second before sophomore Brennen Schneider worked a one-out walk. Back-to-back singles from Day and Loner plated two more runs before Laky drove in the final run of the inning with a two-out single to center field, pushing the King's lead to 8-1.

A quick seventh inning set up the Bears to score their second run of the game off two hits as they faced an 8-2 deficit. Back-to-back singles from Day and Loner started the inning for the Monarchs as they advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt from Yochem. Laky then hit a bases-clearing single up the middle as the Monarchs increased their lead to 10-2 after eight innings of play.

St. Joseph's-Brooklyn got one more run back in the top of the ninth on one hit, but their efforts fell short as the Monarchs recorded the 10-3 win in non-conference play on Wednesday afternoon.

Day and Loner each recorded three hits to lead the Monarchs, as Day scored a team-best three runs with two RBIs and Loner crossed safely twice and drove in one. Laky had a solid game with a team-best four RBIs, adding two hits and a run, while Bound went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run.

The King's pitching staff had a heckuva performance, as the five pitchers combined to allow just three earned runs. Junior Jeremy Huffman recorded the win as he threw for 2.0 innings, while senior Shane Beyer had a strong outing as the start in 2.0 innings, holding the Bears without a hit and striking out three. Additionally, junior Will Hronich struck out a staff-best four batters in the win.

Three different Bears recorded two hits in the loss, while their starter Justin Conaty took the loss, giving up five earned runs on four hits with a walk and two hit batters.

King's will be back at Lipo Field on Friday afternoon as they host DeSales University in the first game of their MAC Freedom series at 3:30 p.m.