EDWARDSVILLE, PA (March 24, 2023) -- In typical rivalry fashion, the opener of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) series between King's College and Wilkes University saw the game extended to 11 innings before the Monarchs fell, 16-15, to the Colonels on the road on Friday afternoon in Edwardsville, Pa. With the loss, King's drops to 7-10 overall and 1-6 in the MAC Freedom standings, while Wilkes improves to 8-11 with a 2-5 conference mark.
 
The Monarchs jumped on the Colonels in the MAC Freedom match up, scoring one on a single from Zach Day in the first. Wilkes (8-11, 2-5 MAC Freedom) tied the game with an RBI double from Connor Morgan in the bottom of the inning as this game was destined for a shootout from the start.
 
The Colonels jumped ahead, 4-1, plating three runs on three hits in the bottom of the second, but the King's (7-10, 1-6 MAC Freedom) exploded for seven runs on seven hits in the top of the third, led by two doubles from Will Hronich and another double from Day as the Monarchs held an 8-4 advantage after the top of the third.
 
Wilkes tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning off two doubles, but both Day and Hronich led off the fourth and fifth, respectively, with solo home runs as King's held a 10-5 edge heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Colonels would not go away easily as they added a run on three hits in the fifth and three runs on three this in the sixth to close within one, 10-9.
 
King's had another strong outing in the top of the seventh, tacking on another four runs on singles from Hronich and Gregory Ahlstrom and capitalizing on strong at bats as the Monarchs jumped ahead, 14-9. The Monarchs defense retired three of four batters faced in the seventh, but it would be the Wilkes offense to finally put up a strong inning in the bottom of the eighth, adding five runs to the scoreboard off five hits in the frame to tie the game, 14-14, as both defenses would finish regulation strong as the game went to extra innings in the opener of the MAC Freedom series.
 
Each team put runs on in the tenth, but the defenses held strong to send the game to the eleventh inning. Chase Yochem would come up big for King's in the top of the frame as he rocketed a home run to left field to give the Monarchs the 15-14 lead. The hosts would have the final say, using a two-run double from Mike Show to give the Colonels the win, 16-15, in extra innings in the MAC Freedom series opener.
 
Day went 4-for-5 with five RBIs, three runs, and two walks, while Hronich posted a 4-for-6 effort with three RBIs and three runs. Yochem, Brandon Loner, and Michael Marmolejos also posted two hits in the loss, with Yochem scoring three and Marmolejos driving in two. Adin Hoderewski was awarded the loss in 3.1 innings of work, giving up three earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts.
 
Connor Mogan led Wilkes with four hits and three runs while adding three RBIs, while Mike Show went 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs. Show also earned the win in 3.0 innings of relief as he gave up just one run on one hit in the outing.
 
The Monarchs will look to bounce back, weather permitting, on Saturday afternoon as they host Wilkes in the MAC Freedom doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. at Lipo Field.