WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 30, 2022) -- In their regular-season finale, the King's College softball team held Delaware Valley University scoreless, winning game one 3-0 before downing the Aggies 8-0 in five innings in game two. The Monarchs post their second-straight 20-plus win season as they stand at 20-11 overall and 11-5 in the MAC Freedom, while the Aggies fall to 11-28 with a 3-13 conference mark.

With the sweep over Delaware Valley, King's secured the third seed in the upcoming MAC Freedom Softball Championship Tournament late next week.

Game 1 - W, 3-0:
Game one featured a pitcher's duel as neither team recorded a hit until the fourth inning. King's (20-11, 11-5 MAC Freedom) broke the scoring drought in the bottom of the fourth as sophomore Kiersten Krouse worked a lead off walk and stole second. A bunt single to the circle from junior Bailey Loyack advanced Krouse to third, and Loyack stole second to put two runners in scoring position with just one out. An RBI infield single from junior Gabrielle Visconti gave King's the 1-0 lead after four innings of play.

Delaware Valley (11-28, 3-13 MAC Freedom) put two runners on in the top of the fifth, but a great run down situation from the Monarchs tagged out the runner between second and third to end the inning and preserve the 1-0 lead.

The sixth saw King's plate two more runs as senior Lindsey Leppo led off with a single through the left side, stole second, and advanced to third thanks to Loyack. Sophomore Molly Gillette reached safely on a fielding error, while pinch runner Celeste Portigiani stole second and Visconti walked with just one out. A fielder's choice allowed Leppo to score, and an Aggies error plated Visconti as the Monarchs took the 3-0 lead heading into the seventh.

The Aggies worked a lead off walk, but the Monarchs defense took care of business down the stretch as King's earned the 3-0 win in game one.

Three different Monarchs recorded the hits in the shutout, led by Visconti who went 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Sophomore Brandi McIntosh earned her 10^th win over the season as she went the distance, allowing just three hits and striking out six.

The Aggies saw three different batters record a hit in the loss. Olivia Monismith took the loss, giving up two earned runs on three hits.

Game 2 - W, 8-0 (5 Innings):
Another slow start saw just one hit in the first two innings of the game before King's broke open the scoring with an explosive third inning, plating seven runs on six hits.

First year Meg Mitola reached on a fielder's choice before Krouse worked the one-out walk. Lepo drove in Mitola with a single to right center and promptly stole second to put two runners in scoring position. A throwing error by the Aggies pitcher saw two more runs cross safely. Back-to-back singles from Gillette and Visconti tallied another run before first year Harley Sullivan drove in two with a one-out triple to left center. King's scored their final run of the inning as first year Emily Novicki executed the perfect bunt to allow Sullivan to score to put the Monarchs ahead, 7-0.

A quick fourth inning set up the walk off win in the bottom of the fifth as Visconti hit a one-out double to right center as Sullivan advanced Visconti to third. Novicki laid down another great bunt to drive in Visconti as King's earned the 8-0 win in five innings for the sweep in the MAC Freedom doubleheader.

Visconti led king's as she went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Both Sullivan and Novicki drove in two runs each in the win. Novicki also earned the win in the complete-game effort, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

Caitlyn Pollock recorded the lone hit in the loss for the Aggies. Katherine Beckett was awarded the loss as the starter in 2.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits.

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The Monarchs will host the MAC Freedom Championship Tournament, starting on Thursday, May 5 at 10:00 a.m. The double-elimination tournament is set to host Misericordia, Arcadia, Stevens, and FDU-Florham in the three-day event with the 2022 MAC Freedom Champion being crowned on Saturday, May 7.

King's will start the tournament against second-seeded Arcadia University at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 5.