WILLIAMSPORT, PA (April 6, 2023) -- After dropping a heartbreaker in game one, 5-4 in eight innings, of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader to the host Lycoming College, the King's College baseball team rallied to salvage the split with a 3-2 win in game two over the Warriors. With the split at historic Bowman Field, the Monarchs stand at 10-15 overall and 3-11 in the MAC Freedom, while the Warriors drop to 7-16 with a 5-9 conference mark.
 
Game 1 – L, 4-5 (8 Innings):
After a quick half inning, Lycoming () struck first as they took advantage of a pair of lead off walks to hold a 1-0 edge over King's () after the first. It was a short-lived lead as the Monarchs plated four runs on three hits in the top of the second, including a double from Nick Ciszak and singles from Justin Richards and Jacob Sutton, to see King's take a 4-1 advantage.
 
The Warriors tacked on another run in the bottom half of the inning behind three hits, including a leadoff triple, to close within two, 4-2. A quick third would see Lycoming cut the deficit again with another run in the fourth on two hits as the Monarchs lead stood at just 4-3.
 
Both defenses settled in down the stretch, but the home team used a solo home run from Joey Trout in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and send the opener to extra innings.
 
King's put one runner on in the top of the eighth but were unable to capitalize before the Warriors put up three singles, including a two-out walk off single to right center from Jake Schilling to see Lycoming hand King's the 5-4 loss in eight innings in game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.
 
Four different Monarchs recorded hits in the loss, led by Richards who went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a run, while Ciszak posted a hit and drove in two. Jeff Higgins was awarded the loss in 3.2 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on five hits.
 
Braden Campbell went 4-for-4 in the win to lead the Warriors, while Zachary Pleska also posted a multi hit game, going 2-for-4 with a triple and a run. Schilling drove in a team-best two RBIs, while Nick Reeder scored twice. Jake Wilber earned the win in the extra inning, holding King's without a run or a hit in the eighth.
 
Game 2 – W, 3-2:
King's would take control of the night cap early, plating one run on a an RBI single to left from Chase Yochem that would drive in Ciszak after his leadoff walk to put the Monarchs ahead, 1-0, in the opening frame.
 
Each team would record a hit over the next three half innings before the Monarchs tacked on another two runs off back-to-back doubles from Ciszak and Yochem and a sacrifice fly from Brennen Schneider as the King's lead swelled to 3-0, in the top of the third.
 
A pitcher's duel ensued as there were five hits recorded over the next three and a half innings. Heading into the final inning of play, the Warriors were set to stage their comeback, putting their first two runners on with singles. After a Monarchs pitching change that would see Will Hronich take the mound, Lycoming plate two runs to pull within one, but Hronich would seal the deal with a strikeout to secure the 3-2 win for King's in game two of the MAC Freedom doubleheader at Bowman Field on Thursday.
 
Yochem led King's with a 2-for-3 effort, driving in two runs and scoring one, while Ciszak posted a hit and scored twice. Additionally, Zach Day and Gregory Ahlstrom recorded hits, while Schneider drove in the winning run for the Monarchs. Matt Masala picked up the win in 6.0 innings of work, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts, while Hronich earned the save in the final 1.0 innings of action, holding the Warriors without a hit or a run with a strikeout.
 
Eight different Warriors tallied a hit in the game-two loss, including a double from Zachary Pleska, while Nick Reeder drove in the lone RBI for the hosts. Landon Evans was awarded the loss as the starter in 2.1 innings of work, allowing two earned runs on four hits.
 
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King's will look to wrap up its MAC Freedom series at home at Lipo Field on Monday afternoon, hosting the Warriors at 3:00 p.m.