SCRANTON, PA (March 12, 2023) -- A walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the 7^th from Nick Ciszak gave the King's College baseball team the 5-2 win in the opener over Misericordia University for their first win over the Cougars since 2019. The Monarchs then dropped game two, 6-0, to split in their Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) opener. The Monarchs now stand at 7-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference standings, while the Cougars post a 9-3 overall record and a 1-1 conference mark.
 
Game 1 – W, 5-2:
It was a thrilling start to their MAC Freedom schedule on Sunday afternoon. Misericordia (9-3, 1-1 MAC Freedom) struck first, putting their first two runners on to start the game before a two-out double to left drove in the first runs of the game to take a 2-0 lead over the Monarchs.
 
It was in the bottom of the third that King's (6-3, 1-1 MAC Freedom) got on the board. Three straight singles from Gregory Ahlstrom, Jacob Sutton, and Nick Ciszak plated one as the Monarchs cut the deficit to 2-1 through three innings of play.
 
King's struck again in the bottom of the fourth as Justin Richards worked a two out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and was driven in by Michael Marmolejos to tie the game at 2-2 after the fourth.
 
It was pitcher's duel down the stretch as both teams tallied a hit in the fifth and Matt Martin struck out two of three batters faced in the sixth to head into the final inning of regulation still knotted at 2-2. The King's defense then dug in to eliminate the Cougars' threat of a leadoff single thanks to some head's up defense on a sacrifice bunt to get the lead runner, and with a runner on first with two outs, Ahlstrom threw out the runner attempting to steal second as King's went into the bottom of the seventh to set up the thrilling walk-off win.
 
Will Hronich was hit by a pitch to put the lead-off runner on, and Ahlstrom laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Hronich to second. A hard-hit infield single from Sutton saw runners on the corners for the Monarchs with one out, and after a defensive shift from Misericordia, Ciszak stepped up and rocketed a three-run home run over the right center fence on the first pitch of the at bat to help give King's the 5-2 win in their MAC Freedom opener, as well as their first win over the Cougars since 2019.
 
Jacob Sutton went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the Monarchs offense, scoring one, while Nick Ciszak drove in four of the Monarchs five runs, going 2-for-4 with a run. Matt Martin secured the complete-game win, going the distance while giving up just two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts.
 
Misericordia was led by Brendan Gray who went 2-for-3, while Brady Madden drove in two and posted a double. Tyler Leonard went the distance to record the loss for the Cougars, throwing 6.1 innings and allowing five earned runs on seven hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 6-0:
A rocky start to the night cap of the MAC Freedom doubleheader saw King's split with the Cougars. Misericordia jumped out of the gate in game two, plating five runs in the opening frame on four hits to take a daunting 5-0 lead. The Cougars would drive in one more run in the top of the second behind a two-out double from Derrick Vosburg and a single from Connor Maryniak to push the Misericordia lead to 6-0 after two innings of play.
 
Relief pitcher Adin Hoderewski settled in down the stretch, giving up just four hits in the final four innings, but the King's offense could not capitalize on some timely hits as the Monarchs fell, 6-0, in the night cap of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.
 
Five different Monarchs put up hits in the loss, including matching 1-for-2 efforts from Richards and Sutton. Zach Day took the loss as the starter, allowing four earned runs on two hits, while Hoderewski threw well in relief, giving up just one earned run on eight hits while striking out four.
 
Misericordia was led by a pair of 3-for-4 plate appearances from Maryniak and Mike Murphy, while Mayniak also drove in three. David McCurry went the distance as the Cougars starter, throwing the complete 7.0 innings and giving up just five hits in the scoreless outing.
 
--
 
The Monarchs are set to finish their MAC Freedom series with the Cougars tomorrow as they make the short trip up the mountain for a 3:30 p.m. start time, weather permitting.