DOYLESTOWN, PA (May 4, 2023) -- In their opening game of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) tournament, the #3 King's College softball team dropped #2 Lycoming College, 6-1, at the DVU Softball Field on Thursday afternoon. With the win, the Monarchs improve to 24-13 overall and will advance to tomorrow's first game and face the winner of the game between Misericordia and Arcadia. The Warriors fall to 22-13 with the loss and will play in tonight's elimination game against #4 Stevens.
 
It was all King's (24-13) from the start in the matchup as Bailey Loyack reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, and scored on a pair of Lycoming (22-13) errors to put the Monarchs on top, 1-0. Another run scored in the second as Hannah Farr hit a one-out single to right, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Colleen Shuler, and scored on a hit from Gabby Visconti as King's led, 2-0.
 
Emily Novicki would put on a show in the circle for King's, fanning six of the first nine batters she faced, as the Monarchs continued to lead, 2-0, heading into the fifth.
 
The top of the fifth was an explosive inning at the plate for King's as Kiersten Krouse launched her first collegiate home run to left field to push their lead to 3-0. A two-out rally ensued as Loyack singled through the left side and stole second. A walk from Harley Sullivan put a pair on to set up the three-run home run from Molly Gillette as the Monarchs lead swelled to 6-0.
 
The lone blemish on the scoreboard for Novicki came in the bottom of the fifth as the Warriors put a run up on a solo home run, but the King's defense remained steady to hold Lycoming to just one and maintain their 6-1 advantage. Both defenses took care of business down the stretch as King's secured the 6-1 win in their MAC Freedom Tournament opener to advance to tomorrow's match up.
 
Gillette went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run, while four other Monarchs put up hits in the win. Additionally, Loyack stole two bases and scored twice to lead the offense. Novicki picked up her 11^th win of the season, surpassed the 100-strikeout mark for the season, and fanned a career-high 11 victims today as she allowed just two hits.
 
Eiswerth and Sobieski had the two hits in the loss for Lycoming, while Russell was awarded the loss as she allowed four earned runs on six hits.
 
King's will advance to tomorrow's MAC Freedom Tournament game at 11:00 a.m. and will take on the winner of the game between #1 Misericordia University and #5 Arcadia University.