EDWARDSVILLE, PA (April 26, 2023) -- With their sweep over cross-town rival Wilkes University on Wednesday afternoon, the King's College softball team picked up their 20^th win of the season and clinched a spot in the 2023 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Tournament. The Monarchs defeated the Colonels, 9-5, in comeback fashion in game one before dominating game two, 8-0, in five innings. King's improves to 20-12 overall and 10-4 in the MAC Freedom, while Wilkes drops to 18-15 with a 3-10 conference mark.
 
Game 1 – W, 9-5:
Bailey Loyack got the game rolling with a solo home run to left field in the top of the first to give King's (20-12, 10-4 MAC Freedom) the early 1-0 edge, but the Colonels took advantage of some timely singles and heads up base running to plate five runs in the bottom of the inning to jump ahead, 5-0.
 
The Monarchs got one back in the second thanks to a leadoff double from Molly Gillette, a one-out single from Megan Mitola, and a sacrifice fly from Collen Shuler as King's closed within 5-2. The defense turned a beautiful double play to stifle a Wilkes (18-15, 3-10 MAC Freedom) push in their next at bat to maintain the current score.
 
King's regained the lead in the third as Olivia Krupski recorded a one-out double to left before Loyack reached safely and stole second which allowed Krupski to score on an errant Colonels throw. A double from Harley Sullivan drove in Loyack while a single from Jessica Perella followed by a double from Mitola gave King's the 6-5 advantage.
 
The Monarchs defense continued to settle in, and after a quick fourth inning, King's put up two more runs thanks to hits from Mitola and Shuler to push their lead to 8-5. The Colonels offense would not put up a hit in the final two innings, while the Monarchs plated their final insurance run in the top of the sixth on some timely base running from Kiersten Krouse to post the 9-5 final in game one of the rivalry doubleheader.
 
Mitola led King's in the win, going 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, and an RBI, while Perella posted a 2-for-3 effort with two runs and an RBI. Loyack and Gillette both scored one with a hit as well to lead the offense. Brandi McIntosh earned the complete-game win, giving up five earned runs with seven hits while striking out two.
 
Nicole Howell lead Wilkes as she went 2-for-4 with a run, while both Marissa Pick and Nicole O'Rourke drove in a pair of runs each. The Colonels starter in Lauren DeMarco was awarded the loss in 3.0 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits.
 
Game 2 – W, 8-0 (5 Innings):
It was a different story in game two as the opening frames saw a defensive battle between the cross-town rivals. The Colonels put up a hit in each at bat through the first two innings, but it would be King's to find their rhythm and strike first.
 
The top of the third saw Mitola and Shuler post back-to-back infield singles, and a sacrifice bunt from Gabby Visconti put both in scoring position. A one-out walk from Krouse loaded the bases before a Colonels error allowed the first run of the game to score. With two outs, Sullivan singled to right center to clear the bases and put the Monarchs ahead, 4-0.
 
The Monarchs defense retired all three batters faced in the bottom of the frame to set up another exciting inning at the plate. Shuler doubled to left with one out and advanced to third on a two-out single from Krouse. After Krouse stole second, Krupski doubled to left center to plate both Shuler and Krouse, and Loyack traded places with her own two-out double. Sullivan drove in the final run of the frame on a single up the middle to see the King's lead swell to 8-0.
 
The Colonels were unable to string together any offense down the stretch as the Monarchs recorded the 8-0 win in the shortened game at Wilkes on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Sullivan and Shuler each went 2-for-3 in the win, with Sullivan driving in four and Shuler scoring twice. Krupski put up a hit with two RBIs and two runs, while both Krouse and Loyack scored a pair in the win. Emily Novicki threw the two-hitter shutout in 5.0 innings with three strikeouts for King's in the win.
 
Nicole Howell and AJ Bryfogle were the lone hits in the loss for Wilkes, while their starter in Sami Hendershott picked up the loss, allowing eight runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work.
 
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King's will look to wrap up the 2023 regular season on Saturday afternoon as they travel to Madison, NJ to take on FDU-Florham. The MAC Freedom doubleheader is set to begin at 12:00 p.m.