CENTER VALLEY, PA (April 16, 2023) -- The King's College baseball team split their Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader on the road at DeSales University on Sunday afternoon, dropping game one 3-0 before earning the thrilling 2-1 win in game two. With the win on Friday, the Monarchs earn the series win, 2-1, over the Bulldogs. The split sees King's improve to 13-17 overall and 5-13 in MAC Freedom play, while the Bulldogs drop to 15-16 and 9-9 in the standings.
 
Game 1 – L, 0-3:
The starting pitchers put on a clinic through the first three innings as neither team put up a hit through the opening frames. King's (13-17, 5-13 MAC Freedom) put up the first hit on a leadoff single from Nick Ciszak, but it would be DeSales (15-16, 9-9 MAC Freedom)to strike first as they drove in a run on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to take the 1-0 lead.
 
Two more Bulldogs runs crossed safely in the bottom of the fifth, plating two runs on four hits to go ahead, 3-0. Both defenses would settle in again through the sixth, and despite putting on two in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff single from Zach Day and a two-out walk from Quin Acchione, the Monarchs were not able to send the game to extra innings as they fell, 3-0, in game one of the doubleheader.
 
Ciszak and Day recorded hits in the loss, while Adin Hoderewski picked up the loss as he went the distance, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.
 
JT Anderosky paced the Bulldogs as he went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI. Alex Chase earned the win in 6.2 innings of work, holding the Monarchs scoreless with just two his, while Mike Romano picked up the save as he recorded the final out in the opener.
 
Game 2 – W, 2-1:
The Monarchs rallied to start the night cap, as Ciszak reached on an infield single with one out before scoring on a double to center from Day. Day was driven in by Michael Marmolejos as King's took the early 2-0 edge over DeSales.
 
There were three hits totaled heading into the bottom of the third before the Bulldogs strung together three. King's defense came up with big plays as they held DeSales scoreless in the frame. Jacob Sutton came up with two big highlights for the Monarchs defensive effort, robbing a homerun-distance shot in the bottom of the fifth and making a diving effort in the bottom of the sixth to hold the Bulldogs to just one run in the bottom of the sixth as the game went to the final inning with King's ahead, 2-1.
 
The Monarchs would put one on to try and increase their lead in the top of the seventh but came up short. DeSales was able to put two on in the bottom of the seventh to try and extend the game, but Will Hronich finished the game strong to hold the Bulldogs scoreless and earn the 2-1 win in the final game of the series.
 
Chase Yochem led King's with a 2-for-4 effort, while Day went 1-for-2 with a double, a run and an RBI. Matt Masala earned the win in 6.0 innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out three, while Hronich earned the save in the final inning of relief.
 
Travis Kerr posted a 3-for-4 day with a run to lead DeSales in the loss. Jared Drake was awarded the loss in the first 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits.
 
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The Monarchs will return to play on Wednesday, April 19 as they are set to host Penn State Schuylkill in non-conference action. First pitch at Lipo Field is set for 4:00 p.m.