WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 19, 2023) -- It was a true battle of top-ranked Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) teams at Betzler Field on Wednesday afternoon, but it would be the visiting Misericordia University Cougars who would come out on top with a 4-2 win in 10 innings in game one and a 3-2 win in game two over the host King's College. With the losses, the Monarchs drop to 17-11 overall and 7-3 in the MAC Freedom, while the Cougars improve to 20-8 and 9-1 in the conference standings.
 
Game 1 – L, 2-4 (10 Innings):
It was a defensive battle from the start as each team put up a pair of hits heading into the fourth inning. It would be King's (17-11, 7-3 MAC Freedom) who would strike first, using a leadoff triple from Bailey Loyack and a sacrifice fly from Molly Gillette to break the standoff and give the Monarchs the 1-0 edge.
 
Brandi McIntosh was stellar in the circle in the next frame, striking out the first two batters before cleanly fielding a ground ball back into the circle to retire all three batters in the inning.
 
The Monarchs kept the bats going in the bottom of the fifth as Gabby Visconti singled to center before a bunt single from Megan Mitola and a base hit to right field from Kiersten Krouse loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly from Olivia Krupski drove in another as the Monarchs held a 2-0 edge heading into the top of the sixth.
 
Misericordia (20-8, 9-1 MAC Freedom) made a comeback effort in the top of the sixth, tying the game on a pair of hits. Each team put up a hit in their next at bats, and the Monarchs made a strong push as they saw singles from Mitola and Krouse in the bottom of the seventh, but King's was not able to convert as the game went into extra innings.
 
The strong defensive performances continued as the Cougars put runners on the corners with just one out in the top of the eighth, but a fly out to Hannah Farr saw the left fielder make the perfect throw home to the plate as Harley Sullivan tagged out the advancing Misericordia base runner to preserve the tie heading into the bottom of the inning.
 
Defense continued to be the primary force at play as there was just one more hit recorded over the next stretch as the international tie breaker rule was put into play in the top of the tenth. Misericordia capitalized on the advantage, plating two in the inning. The Monarchs saw runners on the corners as Mitola advanced to third on an infield single from Loyack, but a heads up defensive play from Misericordia put the game away to see King's fall, 4-2, in 10 innings in the opener.
 
Krouse led the offense with a 4-for-5 effort, adding a stolen base, while both Loyack and Mitola put up two hits each in the loss. McIntosh was awarded the loss in the complete game effort, giving up just two earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts.
 
Three different Cougars tallied two-hit games, led by Gianna Foreman with two hits and two RBIs, while Nicole Elliott scored twice. Alex McHugh picked up her 10^th win of the season in 10.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on 11 hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 2-3:
It was a similar story in game two that saw the MAC Freedom contest come down to the final out. Emily Novicki started the game strong, fanning two of three in the opening frame before the King's offense had a solid inning with a run behind a leadoff walk from Krouse, a sacrifice bunt from Farr, and an RBI single from Loyack to put the Monarchs ahead, 1-0.
 
The defenses would settle in over the next two innings before Misericordia put runs on the board, scoring two on a pair of hits in the fourth to take the 2-1 advantage over the Monarchs. King's had an immediate response in the bottom of the inning, as Novicki reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Visconti, and scored on a single from Krupski and an error from the Cougars to tie the game, 2-2.
 
Heading into the final inning, it seemed as though the night cap was also destined for extra innings, but Misericordia tacked on a run in the top of the seventh, and despite a leadoff walk from Krupski, the Monarchs were unable to tie the game as they fell, 3-2, to Misericordia in game two of the doubleheader.
 
The Monarchs were led by Loyack as she went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Krupski posted a 2-for-2 effort. Gillette posted the Monarchs final hit in the loss, while Krouse and Novicki put up runs for King's. Novicki took the loss in the complete-game effort, allowing three earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts.
 
Five different Cougars posted a hit in the win, while Kaitlin Redling, Foreman, and McHugh drove in runs. Emily Wenner went the distance to earn the win, giving up just one earned run on five hits.
 
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King's will return to Betzler Field on Saturday afternoon as they are set to host Lycoming College. Game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader is set to begin at 1:00 p.m.