WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 23, 2022) -- First year Harley Sullivan recorded the walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh in game one, while a balanced offensive attack in game two earned the King's College softball team a doubleheader sweep over DeSales University on Saturday afternoon at Betzler Field. King's posted the 6-5 in the game-one thriller before earning the 5-1 win in game two. With the sweep, the Monarchs improve to 18-7 overall and 7-3 in the MAC Freedom, while the Bulldogs fall to 9-18 with a 4-6 conference mark.

Game 1 - W, 6-5:
King's (18-7, 7-3 MAC Freedom) faced some offensive struggles in game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader as they were held scoreless until the explosive third inning. DeSales (9-18, 4-6 MAC Freedom) took the early 5-0 lead as they plated two runs on five hits in the first and added three runs on three hits in the third.

The Monarchs answered with their three-run third on three hits. The junior duo of Hannah Farr and Olivia Krupski led off with singles to put runners on with no outs. A Bulldogs throwing error off sophomore Kiersten Krouse's bunt allowed Farr to score with runners on second and third before senior Lindsey Leppo drove in another run. A great slide at home by Krouse during sophomore Molly Gillette's at bat pulled the Monarchs within 5-3.

The defenses made quick work of the next two and a half innings before the Monarchs tied the game on two hits in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Gabrielle Visconti led off with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a passed ball. She advanced to third thanks to Sullivan's at bat before graduate student Morgan Briggs was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners with one out. Pinch runner Celeste Portigiani stole second to put two in scoring position to set up an RBI single through the right side from Farr. Krupski drove in the tying run as the game entered the final inning locked at five runs each.

DeSales put two runners on with one out, but a great double play from Krupski to Gillette held the Bulldogs scoreless to set up the dramatic finish.

Leppo worked a lead off walk and promptly stole second. She advanced to third on a fly out from junior Bailey Loyack. After Gillette was hit by a pitch, Sullivan delivered the tow-out single to the shortstop to drive in the winning run to give King's the 6-5 win in the first game of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.

Farr led the King's offense with a 2-for-3 effort, adding an RBI, a run, and a stolen base in the win. Six other Monarchs recorded hits as well in the win. Sophomore Brandi McIntosh recorded the win in the complete game, giving up just five earned runs.

Reilly Kerr and Victoria Kenney each recorded three hits in the loss, while Olivia Ondrejca scored twice for the Bulldogs. Heather Hall earned the loss in relief, throwing 0.2 innings and allowing one earned run on one hit.

Game 2 - W, 5-1:
Game two saw the Monarchs jump out to an early 5-0 lead over the first four innings of play on their way to the 5-1 win. King's came out of the gates swinging as they scored a run in the first as Krouse worked her way around, getting on with an infield single, stealing second, and advancing to third on a wild pitch. An RBI from Loyack scored Krouse as King's held the 1-0 advantage after the first.

The Monarchs plated another run in the second as Sullivan worked a lead off walk and advanced to second on a passed ball. A single up the middle from Farr scored Sullivan to put Kings' ahead, 2-0.

Two more hits in the third added another run as Gillette hit a two-out double to center and advanced to third on an error. Visconti drove in Gillette with a single to center as the Monarchs held the 3-0 advantage.

An explosive fourth inning saw the King's lead swell to 5-0 as first year Emily Novicki and Farr got on safely and put two runners in scoring position. A passed ball scored Novicki before a single through the left side form Krouse plated Farr as King's led 5-0 after four innings of play.

A quick fifth inning and an impressive top of the sixth where Novicki struck all three batters out looking set up the final inning of play in the doubleheader. The Bulldogs staged a comeback effort as they plated a run on four hits, but the Monarchs defense held steady to strand three DeSales base runners and secure the 5-1 win in the second game of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.

Krouse, Visconti, and Novicki all had two hits in the win. Novicki earned her fifth straight win in the complete game, allowing just one earned run on six hits while fanning six batters.

Victoria Kenney led DeSales again with a 2-for-3 effort and an RBI. Heather Hall picked up her second loss of the day, this time as the starter in 3.1 innings of work, as she allowed five earned runs on six hits.

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The Monarchs are scheduled to play their final non-conference doubleheader of the regular season as they take on the University of Scranton on the road on Monday, April 25 with a 4:00 p.m. start time.