HOBOKEN, NJ (Mar. 21, 2024) - - Despite leading off with a home run in the first at-bat of the game, King's College baseball was unable to come back from an early deficit against Stevens Insitute of Technology and fell short 8-3 against the Ducks this evening in their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom match up. Jaiden Wanamaker and Brennen Schneider had big days at the plate with a home run and double respectively. The Monarchs are now 5-9 overall and 1-3 in MAC Freedom play, while the Ducks advance to 10-5 overall and 2-2 in conference competition. 

Wanamaker made an instant impact for King's sending a homer to right center field as the first Monarch to step up to bat. Nick Ciszak put a single out in center field that allowed Zach Day to score after he advanced to third on a wild pitch. King's ended the top of the first inning with a 2-0, but unfortunately the team's lead did not last long. Stevens picked up its first run after getting walked with bases loaded. Two Ducks singled to right field back-to-back for two more RBIs, followed by an opportunity to score on a King's fielding error. Stevens led 4-2 over King's going into the second inning.

Schneider continued Wanamaker's lead with yet another big lead-off hit to start the second inning for King's as he doubled to left center and put himself in scoring position as Owen Kosar stepped to the plate. Kosar singled to center field to advance Schneider home for the RBI and making it a 4-3 game for the Monarchs. While King's was able to hold Stevens off from scoring in the bottom of the inning, the Ducks continued to build on their lead in the third inning after hitting a single to the pitcher and advancing a runner home on a throwing error. This put Stevens ahead of King's 5-3 at the bottom of the third.

Neither the Monarchs nor the Ducks scored in the fourth inning, but Stevens added a run to its side of the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning after hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to earn its sixth run. The Ducks scored their final two RBIs of the day in the seventh inning when Stevens' Eli Somers ripped a home run to right field. While the Monarchs played strong in the field to keep the Ducks from scoring again in the eighth and nineth innings, Stevens ultimately defeated King's 8-3 in the MAC Freedom face off.

Day led King's at the plate with two hits and a run on the day. Wanamaker also tallied a run in addition to his home run and RBI. Connor Reynolds recorded two strikeouts on the mound as well for King's.

The Monarchs and Ducks both come to Lipo Field tomorrow, Friday Mar. 22, for a MAC Freedom doubleheader beginning at noon.