MADISON, NJ (April 28, 2023) -- It was a banner day for the King's College softball team as they secured the three seed in the upcoming Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Tournament while also posting the most wins in a single season since 2018 as the Monarchs swept the host FDU-Florham, 7-1 and 9-2, on Thursday afternoon in Madison, NJ. With the sweep, the Monarchs improve to 22-12 overall and 12-4 in the MAC Freedom, while the Devils season comes to a close with a 15-16 overall record and a 6-10 conference mark.
 
Game 1 – W, 7-1:
King's (22-12, 12-4 MAC Freedom) stormed out of the gate to keep their hot hitting alive from Wednesday afternoon, plating a run on a pair of singles from Kiersten Krouse and Olivia Krupski and a sacrifice fly from Harley Sullivan to take the early 1-0 edge. FDU-Florham (15-16, 6-10 MAC Freedom) got on the board in the bottom of the inning as Brandi McIntosh gave up one of just two hits in the game with a solo home run from Abigail Rodriguez to tie the game, 1-1.
 
A one out triple from Bailey Loyack in the top of the third set up an RBI single to right from Sullivan as part of a three-hit inning to put the Monarchs back on top, 2-1. Another strong inning at the plate saw King's put up three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth behind hits from Gabby Visconti, Krupski and Loyack before a walk from Molly Gillette plated the first run in the inning. A two-out single to left from Megan Mitola drove in two to see King's push their lead to 5-1 after the top of the fourth.
 
The scoring would ease up over the next two innings before the Monarchs tacked on another run in the top of the sixth as Loyack reached safely on an error, advanced to second on a fielder's choice, and scored on a single to left field from Molly Gillette as King's held a 6-1 edge heading into the seventh.
 
The final run of the game would come in as Colleen Shuler led off with a single to center, advanced to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt from Visconti, and scored on a single through the right side by Krupski. The Monarchs defense would remain strong, retiring all three batters faced in the final frame, to secure the 7-1 win in game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.
 
Krupski went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run to lead King's, while Loyack posted two hits with three runs scored. Gillette recorded a pair of hits, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while both Sullivan and Mitola drove in two RBIs each. Shuler rounded out the multi-hit efforts as she went 2-for-4 in the win. McIntosh threw a near-perfect game, holding the Devils to just two hits and one earned run while striking out two.
 
FDU-Florham was led by Rodriguez and Colleen Conway who both put up hits in the loss, while Ciara Hoffman was awarded the loss, giving up 13 hits and five earned runs.
 
Game 2 – W, 9-2:
A slower start in the night cap saw each team put runners on the first, but it would be the Monarchs to get in the scoring column in the top of the second as King's worked back-to-back lead off walks from Gillette and Mitola before moving up a base each on a wild pitch. A sacrifice fly from Jessica Perella plated the first run, while the King's base runners moved around thanks to hits from Visconti and Krouse to see the Monarchs take the early 2-0 advantage.
 
Emily Novicki struck out three of four batters faced in the bottom half of the frame to set up the explosive third inning for the King's offense. Loyack kicked off the frame with a single before stealing second and advancing to third on a Devils error. A double from Ellie Higdon drove in Loyack before a single from Gillette plated Higdon to push the King's lead to 4-0. Hits from Shuler and Krouse allowed two more runs to score as the Monarchs lead swelled to 7-0 after three innings of play.
 
The Devils broke their scoring drought, tacking on one in the bottom of the third, and after a quiet fourth inning the Monarchs plated two more on a pair of hits, a lead off double from Visconti and a triple from Krouse, while a sacrifice fly from Krupski added another score to see the Monarchs holding a 9-1 edge.
 
FDU-Florham fought back in the bottom of the fifth to score one on a pair of hits and avoid the shortened game, and both defenses held steady down the stretch as King's put up the 9-2 win in the night cap of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.
 
Krouse and Visconti each put up three hits in the win, with Krouse driving in four and both scoring a run each. Higdon posted a 2-for-5 effort, while both Gillette and Shuler scored a pair. Additionally, each Monarch that stepped up to the plate in the game recorded a hit in the 14-hit team effort. Novicki secured the win, fanning a career-high 10 batters and allowing just two earned runs on three hits in the complete-game effort.
 
Kristina Pelano put up two of the Devil's three hits in the loss, including a double, while driving in one. Victoria Fantozzi was awarded the loss as the starter in 2.1 innings of work, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits.
 
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King's will now set its sights on the 2023 MAC Freedom Softball Championships as they secured the three seed in the tournament with the game-one win over the Devils. The Monarchs will take on the second seed from Lycoming College on Thursday, May 4 at 12:00 p.m. at Delaware Valley's Softball Field in Doylestown, Pa.