WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 22, 2023) -- The King's College softball team overcame a 2-0 deficit in game one of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader to earn the 5-2 win and post the split after falling 1-0 in eight innings in game two with Lycoming College. With the split at Betzler Field, the Monarchs improve to 18-12 overall and 8-4 in the MAC Freedom standings, while the Warriors stand at 21-11 with an 11-3 MAC Freedom mark.
 
Game 1 – W, 5-2:
It was a thrilling start to the important MAC Freedom doubleheader as defense was key early. King's (18-12, 8-4 MAC Freedom) put up a hit in each of the first three innings to just one from Lycoming (21-11, 11-3 MAC Freedom), but it would be the Warriors to strike first, tacking on two runs in the top of the fourth.
 
The teams traded hits in their next at bats before King's staged their comeback effort. Jessica Perella led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to right field before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Megan Mitola. A two-out single from Olivia Krupski kept the inning alive to set up the two-RBI triple from Bailey Loyack. A Warriors error during Harley Sullivan's at bat allowed Loyack to cross safely as King's took the 3-2 lead.
 
Despite putting a runner on in the top of the sixth, the King's defense made quick work before adding two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a one-out walk from Colleen Shuler, a two-out double from Kiersten Krouse followed by a triple from Olivia Krupski as the Monarchs held the 5-2 edge heading into the final frame.
 
The Monarchs defense remained strong in the top of the seventh to eliminate the late push from Lycoming as they earned the 5-2 win in game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.
 
Krupski paced the Monarchs with a 3-for-4 effort, adding an RBI and a run, while Krouse posted a 2-for-4 game with a run and an RBI. Loyack drove in a team-best two RBIs, while Molly Gillette added a multi-hit game going 2-for-3. Brandi McIntosh secured the win in the complete-game effort, allowing just two earned runs on six hits.
 
Avery Eiswerth led Lycoming as she went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run, while Rachel Daub drove in a pair of RBIs for the Warriors. Eisworth was also awarded the loss in 6.0 innings, giving up four earned runs on 10 Monarch hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 0-1 (8 Innings):
Game two posed to be another thriller among two top-ranking MAC Freedom opponents. The Monarchs defense would stifle some early attempts by the Warriors to take the lead despite some struggles at the plate.
 
The game would remain scoreless through regulation, but Lycoming would make it a short-live extra-inning game with a run on three hits in the top of the eighth. King's would put two on in the bottom of the frame, but the Lycoming defense remained strong as they handed the Monarchs the 1-0 loss in eight innings to salvage the split. Emily Novicki threw a solid game despite picking up the loss, striking out seven and giving up just one earned run.
 
Sullivan and Gillette each recorded hits in the loss for the Monarchs. Claire Alexander went 2-for-4 with a run, while Morgan Wetzel posted a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI to lead Lycoming. Kylie Russell threw the complete 8.0-inning game for Lycoming to earn the win.
 
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King's will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon as they head out to face cross-town rival Wilkes University at 3:00 p.m. in the MAC Freedom doubleheader in Edwardsville, Pa.