WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 13, 2024) -- The King's College softball team battled back from an 8-0 defeat in five innings in game one to fall, 9-5, to #16 Moravian University in their home opener at the Softball Field at Betzler on Wednesday afternoon. The Monarchs drop their first two of the season and stand at 6-2 overall, while the Greyhounds improved to 4-3 with the sweep.
 
Game 1 – L, 8-0 (5 Innings):
Moravian (4-3) had a strong start to the non-conference doubleheader, plating four runs on six hits in the top of the first before adding three more in the second. The offensive production from the Greyhounds slowed down the stretch as they were limited to just one third-inning tally in the final frames thanks to some solid defensive plays by King's (6-2). The Monarchs made one final push in the bottom of the fifth as Colleen Shuler singled on a hard grounder hit through the left side to get a runner on, but the efforts ended there as King's dropped the 8-0 decision in five innings in the opener.
 
Shuler put up the lone hit in the game-one setback, while both BrookeLynn Walters and Harley Sullivan reached on hit by pitches. Brandi McIntosh recorded the loss as the starter, throwing 1.1 innings with one strikeout, and Madisyn vonFrisch threw well in relief, limiting the Greyhounds to just one run on six hits.
 
Moravian was led by Lindsey Gawrys who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and a run, while Sage Snyder matched her 3-for-4 effort with two runs and a double. Madi Cunningham earned the win through all 5.0 innings of work, throwing the one-hitter with three strikeouts.
 
Game 2 – L, 9-5:
It was a different story in game two of the match up, this time with the Monarchs getting on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Megan Mitola singled to right field and scored on a double to left center from Paige Bergan. Bergan advanced to third during Ellie Higdon's at bat and scored on a sacrifice bunt from Sullivan to give King's the early 2-0 edge over the Greyhounds.
 
Moravian had a quick response, plating two on three hits in the top of the second to knot the score before a lead off home run in the top of the third gave the Greyhounds the 3-2 edge.
 
This time, it was King's to lock the score as back-to-back singles from Bergan and Higdon put runners on with no outs. Two consecutive fielder's choices and some strong base running by the Monarchs during Kara Krouse's and Jessica Perella's at bats pushed the tying run across as the game entered the fourth squared away at 3-3.
 
The Greyhounds got back on top again off a pair of hits in the top of the fourth, holding a 4-3 advantage, but King's strung together a strong bottom half of the frame as Tori Holena worked a lead off walk, and Nina Anzalone came in to advance to second on a wild pitch and then on to third on a Greyhound error that allowed Mitola to get on base. Mitola stole second before Higdon walked, and both Anzalone and Mitola were driven in thanks to a two-RBI single to left by Sullivan to put the Monarchs up, 5-4, after four innings of play.
 
King's attempts to run away with the game fell short as Moravian put up a run in the fifth and four tallies in the sixth, and the Greyhounds defense locked in down the stretch as the Monarchs fell, 9-5, in game two of the doubleheader.
 
Mitola and Bergan each went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs, while Perella added a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI. Sullivan drove in three for King's as well. Emily Novicki picked up the loss in 5.1 innings, allowing eight earned runs while striking out four, and vonFrisch came in for the final 1.2 innings of relief to hold the Greyhounds without a hit or run.
 
Marcie Silberman paced Moravian as she went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Natalie Otto earned the win in the final 4.0 innings of relief, limiting King's to one run on two hits.
 
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King's will travel to Salisbury, Md. this upcoming weekend to compete in the Margie Knight Softball Tournament. The Monarchs open play on Saturday, March 16 at 1:15 p.m. against Lynchburg before taking on New York University at 3:30 p.m. at the Henry S. Parker Athletic Complex.