WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 10, 2023) -- Junior Kiersten Krouse recorded the 100^th hit of her career with a single to right field in the top of the first, Bailey Loyack went 5-for-7 in the split at the plate, and Brandi McIntosh had a stellar outing in the opener as the King's College softball team secured the non-conference split with the University of Scranton on Monday afternoon. The Monarchs picked up the 7-6 win in 11 innings in game one, while the Royals secured the 2-0 win in the night cap. With the split, King's drops to 11-9, while Scranton stands at 12-12.
 
Game 1 – W, 7-6 (11 Innings):
Game one proved to be an instant classic, with Scranton () striking first with a solo home run from Sarah Stepnowski in the top of the first. King's () used an explosive bottom half of the inning, tacking on three runs on two hits, including singles from Kiersten Krouse, Bailey Loyack, and Harley Sullivan to give the Monarchs a 3-1 lead after the opening frame.
 
The Lady Royals would take back the lead in the top of the second, tacking on two runs on two hits to go ahead, 4-3. The Monarchs jumped back on top in the bottom of the inning, using back-to-back doubles from Olivia Krupski and Loyack to go ahead, 5-4, after just two full innings of play.
 
Both pitching staffs and defenses settled in with both teams putting just one hit in the third before Scranton knotted the game, 5-5, in the top of the fourth behind three hits. Each team put up a hit in the final innings of regulation, but neither team was able to break the stalemate as the opener headed into extra innings.
 
The visitors were the first to score in extras, moving the runner to third on a single before scoring on a wild pitch. King's tied the contest in their extra-inning at bat as Loyack moved Krupski on a bunt single to set up a sacrifice fly from Sullivan to send the game to the 9^th inning.
 
Neither team was able to take advantage of the placed runner in the ninth, and despite putting up a hit each in the 10^th the non-conference match up went into the 11^th inning still tied, 6-6.
 
King's retired all three batters faced in the top of the 11^th to set up the exciting finish in the opener. Breanna Goldspiel worked a leadoff walk before a sacrifice bunt from Colleen Shuler put two runners in scoring position with just one out. Hannah Farr stepped up the plate and laid down a bunt that brought in Gabby Visconti to give King's the thrilling 7-6 win in 11 innings over Scranton.
 
Loyack went 4-for-6 to lead the Monarchs, driving in two and scoring one, while Krupski posted a 2-for-5 effort with three runs and an RBI. Additionally, Kiersten Krouse recorded the 100^th hit of her career with her single in the bottom of the first and scored twice for the Monarchs. Brandi McIntosh earned the win in the final 8.0 innings of work, giving up just one earned run on five hits while striking out five.
 
Scranton was paced by Sarah Stepnowski who went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Emmie Feltenberg posted a 2-for-5 effort with a run. Additionally, Alyssa Segnello scored twice for the Lady Royals. Emma Tirollo was awarded the loss in 7.1 innings of relief, giving up two runs on five hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 0-2:
It was a defensive standoff in the night cap as the game remained scoreless going into the top of the fifth before Scranton broke through, plating two runs on three hits, including an RBI single from Jenna Davida, to put the Lady Royals ahead, 2-0.
 
King's would have their best chance in the bottom of the sixth as they put two on behind singles from Visconti and Megan Mitola, but the Scranton defense remained strong to hold King's without a run heading into the final inning of play.
 
The Monarchs would get a two-out single from Loyack to try and spark a late comeback, but the Lady Royals held off the Monarchs to see King's fall, 2-0, in the night cap.
 
Visconti went 2-for-3 to lead King's, while five other Monarchs posted hits in the loss. Courtney Grogan was awarded the loss, allowing two earned runs on four hits in 4.1 innings, while Emily Novicki threw 2.2 scoreless innings in relief with four strikeouts.
 
Madison DeStefano posted a 3-for-3 effort with a run, while Davida drove in both RBIs for the Lady Royals. Carley Noble earned the win in the complete-game effort while giving up seven hits.
 
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King's will set their sights on their rescheduled MAC Freedom doubleheader as they will host Arcadia University at Betzler Field on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch for the conference series is set for 3:00 p.m.