WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 28, 2023) -- The King's College baseball team put up five runs in the first two innings and never looked back as they defeated Clarks Summit University, 13-2, at Lipo Field on Tuesday afternoon. With the win, the Monarchs improve to 8-12 overall, while the Defenders fall to 4-11.
 
The Monarchs jumped out Clarks Summit (4-11) early, using a leadoff double from Will Hronich and consecutive singles from Nick Ciszak and Chase Yochem to get on the board to start the non-conference match up. Another single from Michael Marmolejos plated Yochem as King's (8-12) led, 3-0, after the first inning. The second inning would see the Monarchs extend their lead thanks to singles from Justin Richards and Brayden Schoonmaker and a sacrifice fly from Ciszak as the King's lead was pushed to 5-0.
 
It was a quick stretch heading into the bottom of the fifth as there were just three hits recorded across two and a half frames before the King's offense reignited, plating three runs on three hits, including singles from Zach Day, Marmolejos, and Cole Morio, as they held an 8-0 advantage over Clarks Summit.
 
The Defenders broke their scoring drought as they put up one run on one hit in the top of the sixth to close within 8-1, but the Monarchs hitters would not slow down as five more runs crossed on four hits in the bottom of the sixth, highlighted by a double from Day and singles from Yochem, Morio, and Richards, as the King's lead swelled to 13-1.
 
Despite a two-hit eighth from Clarks Summit that allowed another Defenders run to cross, the Monarchs defense held steady down the stretch to secure the 13-2 win at Lipo Field on Tuesday afternoon.
 
Both Marmolejos and Morio went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Day posted a 3-for-5 effort with a run and an RBI to lead the 16-hit team effort. Ciszak and Schoonmaker each drove in a team-best two runs, while Yochem scored a team-high tying two runs. Adin Hoderewski secured the win in 5.1 innings as the starter, giving up just one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts. Jeff Higgins threw a strong inning of relief in the ninth, allowing just one hit and holding the Defenders scoreless.
 
Simeone Reed had a strong outing for Clarks Summit as he went 3-for-4 with a run and a double, while Daniel Knight also had a multi-hit game totaling two hits. The Defenders starter in Ben Burchell was awarded the loss in 5.0 innings of work, allowing nine earned runs on 12 hits.
 
The Monarchs will set their sights on their MAC Freedom series with FDU-Florham this weekend. King's will travel to Madison, NJ on Friday to take on the Devils in the single game before hosting the doubleheader at Lipo Field on Saturday beginning at noon.