SCRANTON, PA (March 13, 2023) -- The King's College baseball team faced a daunting deficit, but the Monarchs plated seven runs in the top of the eighth to close within four. Their comebacks effort eventually fell short as the Monarchs dropped a 16-10 decision to Misericordia University on Monday afternoon at Scranton's Volpe Field. With the loss, the Monarchs fall to 6-4 overall and 1-2 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play, while the Cougars improve to 10-3 with a 2-1 conference mark.
 
The Cougars controlled the game early, putting up five runs in the first two innings, before King's (6-4, 1-2 MAC Freedom) plated a run in the top of the third behind a leadoff double from Michael Marmolejos. A single to right field from Brennen Schneider and a Cougars miscue allowed Marmolejos to cross safely as the Monarchs closed within 5-1.
 
King's carried that momentum into the fifth as this time it was Zach Day with the double to start the inning, and after a wild pitch advanced Day to third, Gregory Ahlstrom hit a hard grounder to the shortstop to drive in Day as the Misericordia (10-3, 2-1 MAC Freedom) lead was cut to just 5-3.
 
The Cougars would regain control of the contest, scoring eight runs over the next four frames as they led, 13-2, heading into the top of the eighth.
 
The Monarchs ignited for their seven-run inning as Chase Yochem reached safely and advanced to second on a walk by Day. A single from Ricky Hynick loaded the bases to set up a sacrifice fly from John Barry to drive in the first run of the inning. Singles from Marmolejos and Jacob Sutton also allowed two more to cross before a wild pitch saw Ahlstrom tack on another run. Back-to-back singles from Yochem and Day saw the final three runs of the inning come in as King's closed within four, 13-9.
 
Misericordia would respond in the bottom half of the inning, pushing their lead to 16-9 with three runs on two hits.
 
King's would have one final shot to finish their comeback effort and got off to a great start as Barry worked a leadoff walk and made it to third on a one-out double from Marmolejos. Colin Kelleher would put the final run of the game across with a sacrifice fly to right field as the Cougars defense stifled the final efforts from King's to hand the Monarchs the 16-10 loss in the final game of the MAC Freedom series.
 
Marmolejos led King's with a 3-for-5 effort on two doubles with two runs and an RBI, while Day went 2-for4 with two RBIs and two runs. Five other Monarchs posted hits as part of the team's 10-hit effort. Matt Masala was awarded the loss as the starter in 3.2 innings of work, giving up five earned runs on eight hits, while Josh Kilvitis threw well in 1.2 innings of relief, allowing just one earned run on two hits.
 
Brock Bollinger paced the Cougars offense as he went 3-for-3 with a double, three runs, and an RBI, while Brady Madden drove in a team-high four RBI with two doubles in his three hits. Joe Valenti was strong as the Misericordia started, throwing 6.0 innings while giving up just one earned run on four hits.
 
The Monarchs previously scheduled match up with Penn State Hazleton set for Wednesday, March 15 has been postponed with a makeup time and date not set at this time. King's will be back in action on Thursday, March 16 as they host Clarks Summit University in their home opener at Lipo Field at 4:00 p.m.