WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 26, 2023) -- Sophomore pitcher Emily Novicki surpassed the 100-career strikeout mark as her game-two gem helped lift the King's College softball team to a 2-1 win in the night cap after falling 7-0 in the opener to Stockton University. With the split on Sunday afternoon at Betzler Field, the Monarchs stand at 8-6 overall, while the Ospreys sit at 8-8.
 
Game 1 – L, 0-7:
The opener saw a defensive standoff through the first two innings before Stockton (8-8) plated a run on two hits in the top of the third to get the first run of the game on the board. The Ospreys added three runs on three hits in the fourth before tacking on another run in the fifth on a leadoff solo home run to go ahead, 5-0, after five innings of play.
 
King's (8-6) would have a few chances to put a run on the board but could not capitalize, Stockton put away the game with two more runs in the top of the seventh to hand King's the 7-0 loss in game one of the non-conference doubleheader.
 
Bailey Loyack, Harley Sullivan, and Olivia Krupski all recorded hits in the game-one loss, while Kiersten Krouse added a stolen base. Brandi McIntosh was awarded the loss as the starter, giving up three earned runs on five hits, while Maura Furst threw 4.0 innings of relief while allowing two earned runs.
 
Vanessa Tancini led Stockton as she went 3-for-3, while Kayla Posten added two doubles. Jenna Crampton went the distance in the circle as she posted the complete-game shutout while giving up just three hits.
 
Game 2 – W, 2-1:
Novicki's gem started early as she struck out four of the first six batters she faced. The King's bats came alive in the bottom of the second to put them in the scoring column for the afternoon. After a leadoff walk from Gabby Visconti, two timely bunts from Megan Mitola and Emily Novicki allowed Visconti to score. A sacrifice fly from Colleen Shuler plated the second run of the game as King's held a 2-0 advantage after two innings of action.
 
The game would see just one hit across the next three innings before Stockton got on the board in the top of the sixth, closing within one thanks to a double from Kayla Posten to see the King's lead stand at 2-1.
 
It was too little too late for the Ospreys as Novicki shut the door on a comeback with two strikeouts on three batters in the top of the seventh to secure the 2-1 win over the Ospreys in game two.
 
Kiersten Krouse, Harley Sullivan, and Visconti posted hits in the game-two win, while Mitola and Shuler both recorded sacrifice hits. Novicki picked up her 100^th-career strikeout with her fourth win of the season, throwing the complete-game shutout and allowing just three hits and one earned run with nine strikeouts.
 
Three different Ospreys recorded a hit in the loss, including doubles from Postens and Jessica Patterson. Nerina Tramp earned the loss in 6.0 innings of work, giving up two runs on three hits.
 
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The Monarchs will have a quick turnaround as they will travel to Ambler, Pa. to take on Gwynedd Mercy University in a non-conference doubleheader tomorrow. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.