WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 25, 2022) -- In their final non-conference game of the 2022 season, the King's College baseball team outlast Penn State Hazleton, 4-3, at Lipo Field on Monday afternoon. The Monarchs improve to 11-19 overall, while the Nittany Lions fall to 12-19.

Penn State Hazleton (12-19) recorded the first run of the game in the top of the first on an RBI double to take the early 1-0 lead before junior Will Hronich struck out four of the next seven batters faced to keep the score at just 1-0.

The King's (11-19) bats got going in the bottom of the third to tie the game. Senior Matt Bound got on with a one-out bunt single to third, promptly stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch, all with one out. Bound then scored on an RBI single to center field from first year Zach Day to tie the game at one run each.

The Nittany Lions put up another run on two hits in the fourth to hold the 2-1 advantage, but the Monarchs had an answer in the bottom of the fifth as they took the 3-2 lead. Senior Andrew Steidle led off with a single to center field before a walk from Bound and a fielder's choice from Day loaded the bases with no outs. Penn State Hazleton made a nice double play as King's had two runners in scoring position with two outs. Junior Will McIntosh delivered both runners to the plate with a two-out RBI single through the left side as the Monarchs went up, 3-2.

King's tacked on another run in the sixth as senior Seth Laky started the inning with a single to left field. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from junior Pat Noone before Steidle drove him in with a two-out RBI single to right field as the Monarchs led, 4-2, after six innings.

Each team recorded just one hit each over the next two innings as the game entered the top of the ninth to give the Nittany Lions one final chance to send the game to extra innings. Penn State Hazleton got a run back off two hits, but senior James DeNara delivered a strikeout to end the game, giving the Monarchs the 4-3 non-conference win on Monday afternoon.

Steidle paced the offense as he went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Yochem added a two-hit effort, McIntosh drove in a team-high two runs, and Bound added a team-best two runs scored. First year Matt Martin earned his first collegiate win, pitching 4.0 innings in relief and holding the Nittany Lions scoreless. Hronich struck out five as the starter in 4.0 innings of work, while DeNara earned the save.

Three different Nittany Lions recorded two hits in the loss, and their starter in Nicholas Vital earned the loss on the mound in 5.0 innings pitched, allowing three earned runs on seven hits.

King's will finish their regular season with their MAC Freedom series against cross-town rival Wilkes University this upcoming weekend. The Monarchs will host the Colonels on Friday as they celebrate senior day at Lipo Field before the 3:30 p.m. start before making the trip across town for the conference doubleheader on Saturday.