NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 5, 2023) – In their opening day of the 2023 season, the King's College softball team split their matchups, dropping a tough 8-3 decision to Medaille before dominating Penn State Schuylkill, 8-0, in six innings. With the split, the Monarchs start their slate 1-1 to begin the eight-game week.
 
vs. Medaille – L, 8-3:
Medaille (1-0) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning before taking on a run in both the second and third, holding a 4-0 advantage over King's (1-1) to start.
 
The Monarchs got on the board in the bottom of the third, as a leadoff single from Colleen Shuler set up the RBI triple to center from Megan Mitola. Bailey Loyack followed that effort up with a double off the left-field fence to drive in Mitola, and Harley Sullivan muscled a single to right center to allow Gabby Visconti to cross as King's pulled within one, 4-3, after three innings of action.
 
A quiet fourth inning opened the door for a two-hit, two-run fifth from Medaille as they pushed their lead to 6-3. After the Monarchs defense retired all three batters in the sixth, featuring two strikeouts from Maura Furst, King's was able to string together consecutive two-out singles from Kiersten Krouse and Mitola, but they were not able to capitalize as they faced the 6-3 deficit heading into the final inning.
 
Medaille would put the game away in the top of the seventh as two more runs crossed before posting the 8-3 final and handing the Monarchs the loss in the opener.
 
Mitola went a perfect 3-for-3 in the game, adding an RBI and a run, while Loyack went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Brandi McIntosh was awarded the loss as the starter, throwing 2.2 innings and striking out two, while Furst threw well in her collegiate debut, fanning three while allowing just two earned runs.
 
Medaille saw both Brielle Wark and Breena Komarnisky tally three hits, while Wark scored three runs and Komarnisky drove in three. The starter Kaitelyn Alguire earned the win in 3.1 innings of working, while Breena Komarnisky threw well in relief as she gave up just two hits in the appearance.
 
vs. Penn State Schuylkill – W, 8-0 (6 Innings):
King's jumped out from the start thanks to a leadoff triple from Loyack. A one-out single to left center from Sullivan drove in Loyack to put the Monarchs ahead 1-0 early. A double from Ellie Higdon and back-to-back singles from Emily Novicki and Jessica Perella plated two more as the King's lead swelled to 3-0 after the opening inning.
 
The defense was equally as strong in the bottom of the inning as they made quick work of the first three Penn State Schuylkill (0-1) hitters. After a quick second, King's plated three more in the third, featuring a double from Perella and singles from Novicki and Kara Krouse as King's held their 6-0 lead.
 
Just one Nittany Lion would reach base in the next two innings before the Monarchs delivered the dagger in the top of the fifth, thanks to a leadoff single from Novicki and some timely base running from King's posted the 8-0 final after five innings.
 
Novicki went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run while also picking up the win in the circle, throwing for 4.0 innings and giving up just one hit while striking out three. Perella also posted a multi-hit effort as she went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run, while Sullivan scored twice. Additionally, Jennifer Devens had a solid outing in her debut as she gave up just one hit in the final inning of the contest.
 
Two different Nittany Lions recorded hits, and their starter Kaely Walshaw went the distance, throwing 5.9 innings and allowing all eight runs on 10 hits.
 
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King's will be back in action tomorrow, taking on Widener University at 1:00 p.m. before facing Thiel College at 5:00 p.m. in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.