WILKES-BARRE, PA (May 2, 2023) -- Molly Gillette put King's on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh before Gabby Visconti hit a walk-off double to center field to give the King's College softball team the 3-2 win in game one to salvage the split with Marywood University, dropping game two, 6-4, on Tuesday afternoon. With the split in the non-conference contests at Betzler Field, the Monarchs improve to 23-12 overall, while the Pacers drop to 22-13.
 
Game 1 – W, 3-2:
It was a pitcher's duel and defensive standoff through the first five innings of action as there were just five combined hits recorded through the stretch. Marywood (22-13) broke through first, scoring two in the top of the sixth off three hits. King's (23-12) would put one on in response in the bottom of the sixth, but the Pacers defense held steady.
 
In the top of the seventh, it would be the Monarchs defense to come up with some solid defense, erasing a two-out Pacers' triple to give King's one final at bat to secure the win.
 
Gillette led off the bottom of the seventh with a sol home run to left field to put King's on the board, trailing 2-1. A single to right field from Megan Mitola and a double from Harley Sullivan put two in scoring position. A one-out double over the center fielder's head from Visconti drove in the winning runs as King's won the opener, 3-2, over Marywood.
 
Seven different Monarchs recorded hits in the win, including the 1-fo-2 effort with a run and an RBI from Gillette, while Harley Sullivan put up a double with a run. Visconti drove in two off her hit, while Bailey Loyack posted a double. Emily Novicki picked up the win in 2.0 innings of relief, holding the Pacers scoreless off two hits with two strikeouts, while Courtney Grogan threw well in the five 5.0 innings, giving up just two earned runs on five hits.
 
Marywood was led by three with a pair of hits, led by Tori Para with a 2-for-3 effort and a run. Marissa Gregory was awarded the loss as she put up the complete game, giving up three earned runs on seven hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 4-6:
After a quick first inning, Marywood jumped on top to take a 1-0 edge after the top of the second. The defenses would settle back in before the Pacers plated five runs on four hits in the top of the fifth to hold a 6-0 advantage over the Monarchs.
 
King's would get on the board in the bottom of the sixth as Kara Krouse singled to center field and scored on a two-out triple from Bailey Loyack. Harley Sullivan hit a single to center to score Loyack as the Monarchs closed within 6-2. Relief pitcher Brandi McIntosh struck out two in the top of the seventh to give King's one final at bat in the non-conference match up.
 
Grogan led off with a double to left field and advanced to third thanks to Brianna Kesslick. An infield grounder from Colleen Shuler allowed Grogan to score to pull King's within 6-3. Molly Gillette worked a two-out walk, and after Kiersten Krouse went in to pinch run and stole second easily, Kara Krouse knocked a single up the middle to drive in Kiersten Krouse to see the Pacers deficit at just 6-4. The Marywood pitcher put the game away as King's dropped the 6-4 final in the doubleheader.
 
Kara Krouse posted a 2-for-2 effort with an RBI and a run, while Grogan was a perfect 1-for-1 with a run. Loyack drove in one and scored with her triple, while Sullivan and Shuler also posted RBIs in the loss. Maura Furst was awarded the loss as the starter, throwing 4.0 innings and giving up one earned run on five hits with a strikeout, while McIntosh struck out three in 3.0 innings of relief.
 
Emma McNally led Marywood in the win as she was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Sam Baltrusaitis went 2-for-4 with two runs. Mara Hamm went the distance in the win for the Pacers, allowing four earned runs on six hits.
 
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King's will set their sights on the 2023 MAC Freedom Softball Championships this upcoming weekend. The Monarchs open play in the second game, taking on second-seeded Lycoming College at 12:00 p.m. at Delaware Valley University.