WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 22, 2023) -- Nick Ciszak and Chase Yochem each drove in five runs on three hits to lead the King's College baseball team in the 15-7 game one win in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) double header to post the split with Arcadia University on Saturday afternoon at Lipo Field. With the split, the Monarchs stand at 15-19 overall and 6-15 in the conference standings, while the Knights improve to 25-9 and 17-3 in the MAC Freedom.
 
Game 1 – W, 15-7:
Game one was a thriller from the start, with King's (15-19, 6-15 MAC Freedom) striking first, plating two in the bottom of the first behind a pair of singles form Nick Ciszak and Chase Yochem to take the 2-0 lead. Arcadia (25-9, 17-3 MAC Freedom) took their first lead of the game, 3-2, on five hits in the top of the second before adding four more runs on three hits in the top of the third, but after a quick two frames, the Monarchs got back in the scoring column as they take on two more runs to close within 7-4 behind singles from Gregory Ahlstrom and Ciszak.
 
The Monarchs defense settled in the rest of the way, holding the Knights at bay, while their offense fired on all cylinders, scoring five in the bottom of the fifth thanks to singles from Quin Acchione and Yochem and three consecutive walks to pull ahead, 9-7.
 
Josh Kilvitis stepped on the mound in the top of the sixth and held the Knights without a hit to set up the exciting frame for the Monarchs, scoring six more tallies on four hits, highlighted by a double from Ciszak that drove in three and hits from Brandon Loner, Ahlstrom, and Yochem as the King's lead swelled to 15-7.
 
Despite putting two on in the top of the seventh, Arcadia was unable to match the offensive firepower of the Monarchs in the opener as King's took the first game in the MAC Freedom doubleheader, 15-7, over the Knights.
 
Ciszak went 3-for-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored, while Yochem posted a matching 3-for-5 effort with five RBIs. Ahlstrom was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs, while Loner rounded out the multi-hit effort as he went 2-for-3. Sutton had a strong outing as well as he recorded three runs and two RBIs in the win. Brennen Schneider secured the win in 2.1 innings of work, holding the Knights scoreless while giving up just two hits, while Josh Kilvitis was awarded the save in the final 2.0 innings while allowing just one hit.
 
Five different Knights put up two hits in the loss, led by Emilio Pallante who went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Nadell Booker was awarded the loss in 1.0 innings of relief, giving up five runs.
 
Game 2 – L, 5-10:
It was a different story in game two as they top-ranked Knights pounced on King's early, plating three on a pair of hits while retiring all three Monarchs in the bottom of the inning. Arcadia put up another run in the second and two more in the third to go ahead, 6-0.

King's broke their scoring drought in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a leadoff hit from Acchione before a double down the left-field line from Loner. A groundout from Sutton drove in Acchione to see the Monarchs trail, 6-1, heading into the fifth.
 
The Knights would respond in the top of the fifth as they added three insurance runs, but the Monarchs would not go away quietly as they plated four runs behind singles from Yochem, Day, and Loner to close within 9-5. Arcadia would put the game away with a run in the top of the sixth, while the Monarchs comeback efforts came up short down the stretch as they fell, 10-5, in game two of the doubleheader with Arcadia on Saturday afternoon.
 
Acchione was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in the loss for the Monarchs, while both Day and Loner put up two hits a piece. Matt Masala was awarded the loss in 4.0 innings of work, giving up eight earned runs on eight hits.
 
Arcadia was led by Anthony Bruno who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a run, while Alex Madera posted a 2-for-3 effort with three RBIs and a run. Hunter Sibley earned the win across 4.0 innings, holding King's to one earned run on four hits.
 
--
 
The Monarchs will return to Lipo Field tomorrow afternoon for a non-conference contest with Penn State Hazleton. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.