CENTER VALLEY, PA (April 16, 2023) -- Head Coach Lisa Gigliello recorded the 700^th win of her career in game two, while Bailey Loyack posted her 100^th career hit to lead a stellar day for the King's College softball team, defeating DeSales University 5-3 in game one and 4-2 in game two in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) contests. With the sweep, the Monarchs improve to 15-9 overall and 7-1 in the conference, while the Bulldogs fall to 18-10 and 3-5 in the standings.
 
Game 1 – W, 5-3:
DeSales (18-10, 3-5 MAC Freedom)) struck first in the doubleheader, scoring one on one hit in the bottom of the first and second to take the early 2-0 edge. King's (15-9. 7-1 MAC Freedom) would start to click offensively in the top of third as Hannah Farr got things started with a single up the middle. A Bulldogs error allowed Megan Mitola to reach safely before a single up the middle from Kiersten Krouse plated the first run for the Monarchs. A bunt single from Olivia Krupski and an infield single from Bailey Loyack plated two more with her milestone hit as King's jumped ahead, 3-2.
 
It was a defensive battle over the next two innings before the Monarchs broke the scoring drought in the top of the fifth, using a lead off walk from Megan Mitola and singles from Krouse, Loyack, and Sullivan to add another run and hold a 4-2 advantage. DeSales got one back in the bottom of the inning off four hits, but Brand McIntosh put a stop to the rally with a strikeout to end the inning and the Monarchs ahead, 4-3.
 
Heading into the final inning, the Monarchs tacked on another run behind back-to-back doubles from Sullivan and Molly Gillette as the lead swelled to 5-3. The Bulldogs would put one on with a leadoff single, but a stellar defensive play from Colleen Shuler saw the first year catch the line drive and pick off the runner at first. McIntosh put the exclamation mark on the win with a game-ending strikeout as King's earned the 5-3 win in game one.
 
Four different Monarchs recorded multi-hit games, led by Loyack who went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Krouse went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Sullivan posted a 2-for-4 effort with a run, while Farr rounded out the top offensive efforts with a 2-for-3 plate appearance and a run. McIntosh earned the complete-game win, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
 
DeSales was led by Victoria Agnoli who went 3-for-3 at the plate. Rachel Lowry earned the loss in 7.0 innings, giving up four earned runs and 11 hits.
 
Game 2 – W, 4-2:
It would be game two that saw Gigliello record the milestone victory. King's carried the momentum into the night cap, plating two runs on three hits including singles from Olivia Krupski, Bailey Loyack, and Molly Gillette, as the Monarchs took the early 2-0 advantage. Emily Novicki put on a pitching clinic in the game striking out all three batters in the bottom half of the frame.
 
The Monarchs plated another run in the second behind a two-out single from Kiersten Krouse as she stole second and scored on a pair of Bulldogs errors. Novicki remained strong in the circle, striking out two to keep the game scoreless with King's leading, 3-0, after two.
 
Harley Sullivan stepped up to hit a bomb to left field for her first career home run to tack on another run for King's in the top of the third to push their lead to 4-0.
 
DeSales would get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, tallying a pair of runs on three hits to close within 4-2. It would be a defensive clinic down the stretch as there were just three hits combined in the final four innings as the Monarchs secured the 4-2 win and the sweep over the Bulldogs.
 
Loyack led the Monarchs as she went 2-for-4 with a double and a run, while both Sullivan and Gillette drove in runs for King's in the win. Novicki went the distance and allowed just two earned runs on five hits with eight strikeouts.
 
Five different Bulldogs posted hits in the loss, while Victoria Agnoli went 1-for-3 with a triple, a run and an RBI. Tabitha Lawless was awarded the loss as the starter, giving up three earned runs on four hits, while Alanna Hartzell threw well in relief as she gave up an earned run on four hits in 5.0 innings.
 
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King's will have a quick turn around as they are set to host Keystone College tomorrow afternoon at Betzler Field. First game is set for a 3:00 p.m. start in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.