LEHMAN, PA (February 23, 2023) -- Chase Yochem took on the King's College baseball team's season opener by storm, homering twice and driving in six runs, to lead the Monarchs in their 21-6 rout over Clarks Summit University in their 2023 season opener. The Monarchs also helped the honor of breaking in the brand new turf at the neutral site of Lake Lehman High School. With the win, the Monarchs start the season 1-0, while the Defenders fall to 0-2.
 
Clarks Summit (0-2) struck first as they took an advantage of a leadoff walk that would eventually score to lead 1-0. King's (1-0) came out of the gates swinging in the bottom of the inning as Nick Ciszak worked a leadoff walk before Yochem drove him in with a bomb to left center. The scoring would not stop there as a two-out rally ensued thanks to a double from Justin Richards and four straight singles as the Monarchs led, 5-1, after the first inning of their 2023 season.
 
The Monarchs defense held off the Defenders after a lead off double, but a double from Yochem would help set up a two-run inning for King's as their lead grew to 7-1. After a quick third inning, the Monarchs exploded for six runs on four hits, including a one-out grand slam from Yochem, as King's held a 13-1 advantage about midway through the opener.
 
King's would go on cruise control down the stretch, scoring four runs on two hits in the fifth and another four on three hits in the sixth before posting the 21-6 final in their opener at Lake Lehman  High School.
 
Yochem had a stellar outing as he went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double, seven RBIs, and three runs scored. Gregory Ahlstrom went a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a run, while Michael Marmolejos also went perfect as he posted a 2-for-2 effort with two runs and an RBI. Will Hronich and Jacob Sutton also had multi-hit games, adding two with one double each, while Ciszak totaled four runs and three RBIs with a home run in his debut with the Monarchs. Adin Hoderewski earned his first career win as he threw for 4.0 innings, giving up just one earned run on two hits with four strikeouts, while Matt Martin threw a solid 3.0 innings while striking out five.
 
Tanner Smith led Clarks Summit as he went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Josh Daubert drove in a team-leading two RBIs. Nathaniel Tutton took the loss as the Defenders' starter, allowing nine earned runs on 11 hits in 3.1 innings of work.
 
As a team, the Monarchs totaled 18 hits with 20 RBIs on 21 runs while working 11 walks. King's also recorded eight extra base hits, including three home runs and five doubles.
 
King's will take the weekend off before returning to play on Wednesday, March 1 at the University of Scranton. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Volpe Field.