EDWARDSVILLE, PA (Feb. 27, 2024) - - King's College baseball came up just short 2-1 in the Monarchs' 2024 season opener at Wilkes University's home field, Bruggeworth Field, when the game was canceled due to rain. Nick Ciszak scored the Monarchs' only run of the game in the fourth inning. 

King's had led off the first inning with a tough three-up-three-down at the plate. Wilkes took advantage of a King's error, allowing their lead off batter to get to second, followed by their second getting to first after being hit by a pitch. However the Colonels were briefly slowed down by two pop-flies to give the Monarchs two outs, but were quickly boosted by Wilkes' fifth batter Zack Luksic ripped a triple to right center and sent the Colonels' base runners home to score two runs. The first inning ended shortly after when Wilkes popped-up again to center field, closing the inning with a 2-0 lead over King's.

Despite another tough start to the inning for the Monarchs after grounding-out and popping-up at the first two at-bats, Justin Stefanowicz and Owen Kosar both hit singles to get on base for King's. Both Monarchs advanced to second and third base after a wild pitch from Wilkes, but fell short getting home for a run after the Colonels caught Brayden Schoonmaker's fly ball to left field to end the top of the second. The bottom of the inning was a quick three-up-three-down for the Colonels after grounding out to second base twice and short-stop once, but still led 2-0 over the Monarchs going into the third.

King's started the third inning with two outs from its first two at-bats again, but Jaiden Wanamaker stepped up for the Monarchs and reached first after sending a single to the Colonels' pitcher. Chase Yochem and Zach Day were both walked to load the bases for King's, but unfortunately grounded-out to end the inning before getting to home. King's played strong on defense again with three-up-three-down for the Colonels, grounding-out to the infield each time. The score at the bottom of the third was still 2-0 with Wilkes leading.

Stefanowicz gave the Monarchs a quick start to the fourth with a single sent to the right. Kosar then took a sacrifice bunt to send Stefanowicz to second, but he was stopped there after Wilkes caught a fly ball in right field and King's struck out to end the top of the inning. The Monarchs continued to play tough in the field with three quick outs again, this time catching two fly balls in the outfield and a ground ball sent to third base. The fourth ended with Wilkes on top again, still leading 2-0. 

The Monarchs came out quick again to start the fifth inning with Nick Ciszak being walked to advance to first and then stealing second during Wanamaker's at-bat. Despite him flying-out to center field, it was enough to send Ciszak to scoring position at third base. Despite a strikeout between plays, Day reached first from a Colonels' throwing error, which sent Ciszak in to score for the Monarchs. Day then stole second, but did not make it home in time before the top of the inning ended after a King's strikeout. Wilkes started the bottom of the fifth getting walked to first base, followed by a ground-out to put its runner on second. However the runner was tagged out by Wanamaker after attempting to steal third base before another Colonel was walked to first. Despite the runner advancing to third before the end of the inning due to error, Wilkes struck out on its last at-bat to close the bottom of the fifth 2-1 over King's.

Stefanowicz was walked to first before being subbed by Bryce O'Hara to pinch run, who then stole second during the Monarchs' second at-bat, to start the top of the sixth inning. Despite grounding-out at the third at-bat, the hit sent O'Hara to third and put in position to score, but King's stuck out swinging to end the top of the sixth. Aiden Hoderewski struck out all three of the Colonels' hitters for the Monarchs to end the sixth.

King's battled through the top of the seventh, eventually tying the game at 2-2, but the game reverted back to its last completed full inning of play due to weather as Wilkes secured the 2-1 win over the Monarchs int he season opener.

Stefanowicz led the Monarchs with two hits, followed by one each from Wanamaker and Kosar. Hoderewski also had a strong day on the mound with four strikeouts facing seven batters in two innings after coming in to relieve Matt Masala at the start of the fifth. 

The Monarchs return to action as they host their home-opener on Saturday, March 2, for a double-header against Penn State Scranton at noon and 2:30 pm at Lipo Field in Wilkes-Barre, PA.