WILKES-BARRE, PA (Mar. 13, 2024) - - After finally returning to Lipo Field for its 2024 season home opener, King's College baseball defeated Penn State Hazelton 7-4 this afternoon. Michael Marmolejos recorded a triple for the Monarchs while Owen Kosar added a double to contribute to the win. The Monarchs are now 4-6 this season as the Nittany Lions drop to 2-9.
 
Penn State Hazelton made a statement as Eddie Wess opened the game with a home run in the Nittany Lions' second at-bat of the day to give themselves a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Their lead was short-lived though as Zach Day sent a single up the middle to send Jaiden Wanamaker home for a King's RBI. In similar fashion, Marmolejos sent a single through the left side soon after Day put Chase Yochem in scoring position at third to earn the 2-1 lead for the Monarchs. Kosar then hit his double to right field for two more runs for King's just before Wyatt Moore put a sacrifice fly in right field that allowed Brennen Schneider to build the Monarchs' lead to 5-1 at the bottom of the first.
 
The Nittany Lions put themselves up on the scoreboard again in the top of the second inning when they reached first on a fielder's choice and gained a second run to shorten their trail to 5-2. King's continued to add to its lead in the third inning when Wyatt Moore also reached on a fielder's choice, which gave Brendan Kopec the opportunity to score and up the Monarchs' lead to 6-2.
 
With no action for either team in the fourth inning, Penn State Hazelton attempted to make a comeback while at the plate in the fifth and six innings. Another Nittany Lion flew out to right field for an RBI in the fifth inning before the six inning when Hunter Schmidt singled to left center for the team's fourth and final run of the day to put them behind the Monarchs 6-4. Despite their best efforts at a comeback, Marmolejos sent a triple flying to left field to send Day in for the game-winning run. King's ultimately won 7-4.
 
Marmolejos went three-for-four at the plate today while Kosar went two-for -three. Kosar, Marmolejos and Moore all earned 2 RBIs in the Monarchs' win. Matt Masala led the Monarchs to the win as he collected his first win of the year on the mound. Adin Hoderewski tallied the save win for the game tonight as well.
 
The Monarchs take Lipo Field again on Friday March 14 for their first Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) match up of the season as they face FDU-Florham at 3:30 pm.