WILLIAMSPORT, PA (April 21, 2022) -- Junior Bailey Loyack's home run in game one and RBI double in game two led the King's College softball team to a doubleheader sweep at Lycoming College on Thursday afternoon in MAC Freedom play. The Monarchs improve to 16-7 overall and 7-3 in the conference standings, while the Warriors fall to 6-20 and 1-11 in the MAC Freedom.

Game 1 - W, 11-1 (6 Innings):
Senior Lindsey Leppo got the offense rolling as she reached safely on a Warrior's error before stealing second to put her in scoring position for a two-out RBI double from sophomore Molly Gillette to give King's (16-7, 7-3 MAC Freedom) the early 1-0 lead.

Lycoming (6-20, 1-11 MAC Freedom) got on the board in the bottom of the inning as the hosts took advantage of an early walk and some Monarchs errors to tie the game, 1-1, after one inning of play.

The Monarchs plated two more in the third as Leppo recorded the 100^th hit of her career to put a runner on base with one out. Loyack hit an infield single and stole second during the next at bat to put two runners in scoring position for Gillette's second RBI double of the game to put the Monarchs ahead 3-1.

The King's offense exploded for four runs on four hits in the fourth inning as graduate student Morgan Briggs started the inning with a lead off double to left field. Back-to-back singles from the junior duo of Hannah Farr and Olivia Krupski plated one run, before a sacrifice fly from Leppo tallied another. It was then that Loyack laced a two-run home run to dead center field to give the Monarchs the 7-1 advantage.

The next nine batters were retired before the Monarchs offense was reignited as Krupski reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error from the Warriors. The two-out rally got started as Leppo knocked an RBI double to center field and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Loyack reached safely on an error to allow Leppo to score before Gillette singled to center field. The pair advanced on a wild pitch as Loyack crossed safely before two consecutive singles from junior Gabrielle Visconti and first year Harley Sullivan to give King's the 11-1 lead.

The Warriors put their lead off runner on with a Monarchs error, but the King's defense turned a beautiful double play to extinguish the threat and earn the 11-1 win in the shortened contest.

Gillette led King's as she went 3-for-4 with a team-high three RBIs, while Leppo went 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs. Loyack posted a 2-for-4 effort with three runs and two RBIs, Sullivan added two hits, and Krupski went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Sophomore Brandi McIntosh picked up her eighth win of the season in the complete game, throwing 6.0 innings and allowing just one unearned run on two hits.

Rachel Daub and Morgan Wetzel each recorded hits for Lycoming in the loss. The Warriors starter in Kylie Russell recorded the loss in 4.0 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits.

Game 2 - W, 2-0:
Game two in the doubleheader was the complete opposite as a pitcher's duel ensued. Neither team saw a base runner reach third safely until the fourth inning as the game remained scoreless through five innings of play.

King's broke through in the sixth as sophomore Kiersten Krouse hit a one-out single to right field and advanced all the way to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch. Loyack delivered the two-out double to drive in the first run of the game and give the Monarchs the 1-0 lead.

The Warriors put a runner on second in the bottom of the inning with just one out, but the Monarchs defense held steady to preserve the 1-0 lead.

Gillette set up the insurance run for King's in the top of the seventh as she led off with a single to left field. A double from Sullivan off the left-field fence advanced Gillette to third before first year Emily Novicki delivered the run with an RBI single up the middle to put King's ahead, 2-0.

Novicki then put the punctuation mark on the game as she struck out two in the bottom of the seventh as King's earned the 2-0 win over Lycoming in the MAC Freedom contest.

Six different Monarchs recorded a hit in the win, while Novicki earned her seventh win as she held Lycoming scoreless and struck out five.

Five different Warriors posted a hit in the loss, and Payton Whary was awarded the loss in the complete 7.0 innings, giving up two earned runs on six hits.

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The Monarchs are back in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Saturday afternoon as they host DeSales University in the MAC Freedom doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. at the Betzler Fields.