NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 7, 2023) -- In two tough match ups on their Tuesday in South Carolina, the King's College softball team split their contests, defeating Montclair State, 4-2, in their opener before dropping a gritty 7-4 test to Kean University. King's will head into their final day of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, SC with a 3-3 record.
 
vs. Montclair State – W,  4-2:
Montclair State (2-1) would get on the board first as they plate a run in the opening inning, but King's (3-2) would respond immediately as Kiersten Krouse, Megan Mitola, and Bailey Loyack all singled to drive in Krouse and tie the game at 1-1 after the opening inning.
 
After Emily Novicki struck out two of three in the second, the Monarchs struck again as Hannah Farr hit a two-out single before Krouse drove in Farr to put King's ahead, 2-1. A quick third saw the Red Hawks knot the game in the fourth at 2-2, but again King's responded as Colleen Shuler worked a leadoff walk and worked her way around to put the Monarchs back on top, 3-2.
 
The Monarchs plated another in the fifth as Harley Sullivan laced a leadoff double to center and scored thanks to a single from Molly Gillette as King's held a 4-2 advantage heading into the sixth. Each team would get a runner on in the sixth, and Montclair State would put one on in their comeback effort in the seventh, but both defenses remained steady down t he stretch as King's secured the 4-2 lead in their Tuesday opener.
 
Krouse, Mitola, and Loyack all posted two hits in the win, while both Krouse and Loyack drove in runs in the win. Novicki threw the complete 7.0 innings and gave up just one earned run on eight hits with eight strikeouts.
 
Montclair State saw three post multi-hit games, led by Jenna Meluso who went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice hit in the loss. The Red Hawks stater in Ali Cavallaro took the loss in 4.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on nine hits.
 
vs. Kean – L, 4-7:
The night cap was a thriller from the start as the King's (3-3) defense stifled a leadoff double and prevented Kean (6-4) from striking first. Kiersten Krouse singled to get the offense started for the Monarchs, and after stealing second and advanced to third on an error by the Cougars. A sacrifice fly from Loyack plated Krosue before singles from Sullivan and Ellie Higdon allowed Mitola to cross to put King's ahead, 2-0, to start their night cap.
 
Neither team could find a rhythm offensively as the bats quieted until Kean broke the stalemate in the top of the fifth, driving in one on one hit to pull within a run, 2-1. King's had a response in the bottom of the inning as Kiersten Krouse led off with a single and Mitola worked a walk to set up another run-scoring at bat from Loyack. Visconti posted a two-out single through the left side as she drove in Mitola to see the King's lead swell to 4-1 after five innings of play.
 
The Kean bats would come alive down the stretch as they tallied four runs on two hits in the top of the sixth to go ahead, 5-4. Despite back-to-back singles to start the sixth, the Monarchs were unable to capitalize and went into the final inning of regulation trailing by one.
 
Kean posted two insurance runs in the top of the seventh off of two hits, but King's would work some quality at-bats before falling, 7-4, to Kean in their Tuesday-night match up in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.
 
Kiersten Krouse, Harley Sullivan, and Gabby Visconti all recorded two hits in the win, while Krouse and Mitola scored twice. Novicki was awarded the loss in 2.0 innings of relief, giving up two earned runs on four hits while striking out three, while Brandi McIntosh tossed 5.0 innings to start while allowing two earned runs and fanning two.
 
Kean's leadoff hitter in Melody Caces went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, while Autaum Hilyer drove in two. The starter in Annabella Marino went the distance and gave up one earned run on 11 hits.
 
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King's will conclude its trip to North Myrtle Beach, SC and the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic tomorrow evening as they take on Rosemont College at 5:00 p.m. and Hunter College at 7:00 p.m.