WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 14, 2023) -- The King's College baseball team jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning and held off the late comeback efforts by the visitors as they defeated DeSales University, 7-6, in game one of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) at Lipo Field. With the conference win on Friday, the Monarchs improve to 12-16 overall and 4-12 in the MAC Freedom, while the Bulldogs fall to 14-15 with an 8-8 conference mark.
 
The King's (12-16, 4-12 MAC Freedom) worked out of a tough start that saw DeSales (14-15, 8-8 MAC Freedom) put two on with two outs in the top of the first and used that momentum to strike first in the conference contest. Will Hronich led off with a single down the left field line and scored on a one-out double to left center from Chase Yochem. Three consecutive two-out singles from Michael Marmolejos, Brandon Longer, and Quin Acchione saw two more score to give the Monarchs the early 3-0 edge over the Bulldogs.
 
There were just five hits recorded over the next four and a half innings as each team's pitching staffs settled in, but King's would put another run on the board in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to three straight singles again from Marmolejos, Loner and Acchione before a sacrifice fly from Jacob Sutton plated the run to put the Monarchs ahead, 4-0.
 
DeSales staged their comeback, scoring six runs on three hits in the top of the seventh to take the 6-4 lead. The Monarchs rallied to tie the contest in the bottom of the frame, using a leadoff single from Nick Ciszak, a walk from Zach Day, and a double from Marmolejos that saw the game knotted at six a piece with two innings left in regulation.
 
The Bulldogs would put one on in the top of the eight, but Josh Kilvitis remained strong, striking out the final two batters of the inning to set up the thrilling bottom of the eighth. Gregory Ahlstrom reached safely on an infield single and advanced to second on a DeSales throwing error. Sutton stepped up to lay down the perfect bunt that would go down as a single, and some great base running from Ahlstrom took advantage of another Bulldogs error to see King's jump ahead, 7-6.
 
Matt Masala entered the game to help the Monarchs secure the win, and the first year struck out two of his first three batters before letting the King's defense put the game away with a groundout to short stop Brennen Schneider as the Monarchs outlasted DeSales, 7-6, to start their MAC Freedom series at Lipo Field on Friday afternoon.
 
Marmolejos went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored to lead King's, while Brandon Loner was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Ciszak and Acchione also put up multi-hit gamest to help lead the 14-hit team effort in the win. Josh Kilvitis earned the win in 1.1 innings of work, holding the Bulldogs scoreless with just one hit and two strikeouts, while Masala earned the save with the stellar performance in the final inning. Matt Martin also threw well as the starter, going 6.0 innings while allowing just one earned run on five hits with seven strikeouts.
 
Billy Scanlon led the Bulldogs as he went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, while John Rorick added two hits, a run, and an RBI. Will Shelden was awarded the loss in 1.0 inning of work, giving up the winning run on two hits.
 
King's will look to carry the momentum into the MAC Freedom doubleheader on the road on Saturday afternoon at DeSales. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. in Center Valley, Pa.