WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 29, 2022) -- In their final home contest at Lipo Field for the 2022 season, the King's College baseball team was doomed by a costly fourth inning as they fell, 16-2, to cross-town rival Wilkes University in the MAC Freedom contest. The Monarchs fall to 11-20 overall with a 3-16 conference mark, while the Colonels improve to 22-15 and 8-11 in the MAC Freedom.

Prior to the contest, King's honored the nine senior members of the team in their final home game at Lipo Field, including Shane Beyer, Matt Bound, James DeNara, Seth Laky, Anthony Neri, Randy Paulino, Andrew Steidle, Colby Toth, and Nick Zarola.

Wilkes (22-15, 8-11 MAC Freedom) started strong as they plated a run in each of the first two innings to take the early 2-0 lead over the Monarchs. King's (11-20, 3-16 MAC Freedom) got one back in the third as first year Zach Day hit a one-out double to right center, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field from junior Brandon Loner, bringing the Monarchs within 2-1.

A big fourth inning that saw the Colonels plate nine runs on seven hits proved costly as Wilkes took a daunting 11-1 lead. The Monarchs chipped away at the lead in the bottom of the inning, as junior Pat Noone doubled to left center to start the offense. A one-out double to right field from sophomore Gregory Ahlstrom drove in Noone as King's trailed, 11-2, after four innings of play.

Wilkes plated two more runs in the sixth on two solo home runs before adding two more in the eighth to post the 16-2 final in the MAC Freedom contest at Lipo Field on Friday afternoon.

Day and Ahlstrom led King's with three hits each, while Noone recorded two. DeNara recorded the loss as the starter, throwing for 3.2 innings and allowing four earned runs with three strikeouts. Junior Jeremy Huffman threw well in relief for the Monarchs, holding Wilkes scoreless with just two hits in the final 2.0 innings with two strikeouts.

Max Alessi had a solid outing for the Colonels as he went 4-for-5, narrowly missing the cycle with a double and a home run, adding four run s and three RBIs. JT Hibschman went the distance in the win for Wilkes, giving up two earned runs on 11 hits.

The Monarchs will wrap up their 2022 season tomorrow afternoon as they make the trip across town. First pitch of the MAC Freedom doubleheader at Wilkes University is set for 12:00 p.m. in Edwardsville, Pa.