NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 4, 2024) -- The Monarchs put up their second shutout of the 2024 season and powered through a tough afternoon contest, recording nine hits in the effort, as the King's College softball team improved to an undefeated 4-0 on Monday afternoon. King's blanked Norwich, 5-0, in their morning contest at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex before handing Immaculata a 7-6 defeat in the afternoon at the Central Park Sports Complex.
 
Game 1 vs. Norwich – W, 5-0:
The King's (4-0) offense came out to a slow start, but their defensive efforts remained steady with Maura Furst picking up two strikeouts in the first three innings to maintain the scoreless affair.
 
BrookeLynn Walters was hit by a pitch and stole second to jump start the scoring run for the Monarchs in the top of the fourth. She then scored on a single up the middle from Brianna Kesslick, and after Ellie Higdon was hit by a pitch, Harley Sullivan drove in Kesslick with runners on first and second and no outs. A walk by Nina Anzalone loaded the bases before a pair of walks from Leanna Rinaldi and Melinda Ciero plated two more to put King's ahead, 4-0, midway through the fourth.
 
The game slowed again with no hits recorded over the next two innings. King's struck again in the top of the seventh, tacking on an insurance run as a single to left from Higdon moved Megan Mitola into scoring position and a fielder's choice from Sullivan put the run across. Brandi McIntosh fanned the lead off hitter in the bottom of the seventh, and the defense made two solid plays to secure the 5-0 win for the Monarchs in their first game of the day.
 
Sullivan led the offense as she went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, while Kesslick had a hit, a run, and an RBI. Furst collected the win as the starter, throwing the first 4.0 innings and giving up just four hits with two strikeouts, while McIntosh helped complete the shutout in the final 3.0 frames with four strikeouts.
 
Madison DeCota had a 2-for-2 effort at the plate for the Cadets, while Maren McGinn was awarded the loss as the starter, going 4.0 innings and giving up four earned runs on a pair of hits.
 
Game 2 vs. Immaculata – W, 7-6:
The second contest of day left a microscopic margin of error as the Monarchs had to overcome a four-run third inning by Immaculata (0-2). The Mighty Macs struck in the top of the first off a pair of singles, and after two quick half innings the King's bats came alive.
 
Sullivan worked a lead off walk, and Kara Krouse reached on a fielder's choice to put two on with just one out. A fly out to deep right by Colleen Shuler allowed Sullivan to move up a base to score on an RBI single to center from Paige Bergan. Both Krouse and Bergan advanced on a wild pitch, and an infield single to the short stop by Breanna Goldspiel put the Monarchs on top, 2-1, after two innings of play.
 
Immaculata exploded for their four-run third off three hits, growing their lead to 5-2 over the Monarchs, but King's chipped away at the deficit. Megan Mitola led off the bottom of the third with a single to right center, stole second, and scored on a two-out RBI single to center by Jessica Perella to trail just 5-3.
 
The King's defense held firm in the top of the fourth before tacking on another run in the bottom of the fourth. Shuler doubled to left field in the first at bat, and Bergan worked a walk to put runners on first and second with no outs. A one-out single from Walters loaded the bases, and a wild pitch scored Bergan to pull the Monarchs within 5-4 after four innings of action.
 
The Mighty Macs had an answer in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of a two-out double, but it was the bottom of the fifth when the Monarchs offense surged. A costly Mighty Macs defensive error saw Perella reach safely and advance to second on a wild pitch to start off the inning. A Krouse double off the left field fence brought in Perella, and a pair of wild pitches brought in Krouse to tie the game with no outs. Shuler and Bergan both walked, with Shuler making her way to third on a wild pitch and Immaculata throwing error to set up a sacrifice fly to left from Goldspiel as King's took the 7-6 advantage heading into the sixth.
 
King's made quick work of the Immaculata hitters in the top of the sixth, thanks to a strikeout from Emily Novicki and two infield ground outs. Immaculata put their lead off runner on with a single to right, but Krouse made a great grab in center, Sullivan threw out the runner stealing third, and Novicki put an exclamation mark on the game with a strikeout as the Monarchs secured the thrilling 7-6 win over Immaculata in their Monday night cap.
 
Mitola went 2-for-4 with a run and a stolen base, while Krouse scored twice with a hit and an RBI. Additionally, Goldspiel drove in two with a hit to lead a nine-hit effort for the Monarchs. Novicki earned the win in 4.2 innings of relief, giving up one earned run on four hits with while fanning three, and Ryan Pierce threw well in the first 2.1 frames, striking out one and allowing four hits.
 
Both Naila Valdez and Jess Oldham went 2-for-4 with a run for the Mighty Macs, while Lauren Carboni drove in a pair of runs. Courtney Gable was awarded the loss through the first 5.0 innings of work, giving up eight hits with seven runs and five walks.
 
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The Monarchs continue their spring trip in North Myrtle Beach tomorrow morning, taking on New Jersey City University at 9:00 a.m. before battling with Penn State Abington at 1:00 p.m. at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex's Field 2.