NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (March 5, 2024) -- Jessica Perella laid down a sacrifice bunt to lead off the bottom of the eighth and drive in the winning run in game one, while Maura Furst threw a gem in game two as the King's College softball team swept their action on Tuesday to remain undefeated at 6-0. The Monarchs outlasted New Jersey City University 4-3 in eight innings in the morning match up before handing Penn State Abington a 2-0 loss to end the day.
 
Game 1 vs. New Jersey City – W, 4-3 (8 Innings):
It was a slow start to the Monarchs' Tuesday morning as there was just one hit and two combined base runners in the game over the first two innings. NJCU (1-3) found their stride in the top of the third, plating three on back-to-back singles and a two-out double to left center as King's (6-0) faced a 3-0 deficit midway through the third.
 
The Gothic Knight's defense continued to calm the King's bats until the bottom of the fourth when Breanna Goldspiel led off with a single and advanced to second on an NJCU throwing error. Ellie Higdon worked a one-out walk before Madison Badali singled to right to drive in Goldspiel and move Higdon to third. A hit from Brianna Kesslick cleared the bases as the Monarchs tied the game, 3-3, after four innings of action.
 
Another quick two innings saw the contest enter the bottom of the seventh still knotted at 3-3. Colleen Shuler produced a two-out single to left to keep the game going, but the Gothic Knights' left fielder tracked down a ball from Harley Sullivan to send the game to extra innings.
 
NJCU moved their base runner to third on a wild pitch, but two stellar defensive plays at third by Badali and a pop out to Shuler at short set up the thrilling finish for the Monarchs in their first game of the day. Sullivan was placed on second, and Jessica Perella laid down a bunt to move Sullivan to third. A Gothic Knight overthrow allowed Sullivan to come all the way home and give King's the 4-3 victory in eight innings.
 
Kesslick had a hit and two RBIs in the win to lead King's, while Badali had a hit, a run, and an RBI. Madisyn vonFrisch earned the win in relief, throwing the final 5.1 innings while giving up just one hit and fanning two in her scoreless affair.
 
Mariah Villanueva went 2-for-2 to pace NJCU, while Abigail Castro drove in two of the three runs with her double. Sidnie Dabbadie earned the loss in 7.0 innings, allowing four runs on four hits.
 
Game 2 vs. Penn State Abington – W, 2-0:
Not one fan at the North Myrtle Beach Park and Sports Complex could leave with a cantankerous attitude as the second game was a well-played contest by both teams. Penn State Abington (1-3) put a runner on in the top of the first, but the only remaining base runners through the first three innings of play reached on errors as it was a true defensive standoff on Tuesday afternoon.
 
After a quick three-up-three-down in the top of the fourth, the King's offense got in the hit column with a lead off single up the middle from Higdon and a single to right from Perella, but a deep ball to center off the bat of Shuler was caught to silence the momentum.
 
The Nittany Lions got their second base runner of the game in the top of the fifth, but Perella's glove at second put a stop to their efforts and maintain the scoreless efforts heading into the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Monarchs broke through the stalemate in the bottom half of the frame as Nina Anzalone got her first collegiate hit with a line drive single through the left side before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Paige Bergan. A Penn State Abington miscue allowed BrookeLynn Walters to get on to put runners on the corners and set up a bunt and run by Goldspiel to bring in Anzalone and put King's ahead 1-0.
 
Furst needed just three pitches in the top of the sixth to make quick work of the Nittany Lions and preserve the 1-0 advantage. The Monarchs produced an insurance run in the bottom of the inning as Badali hit a one-out single up the middle, advanced to second on an infield ball from Perella, and moved up to third on a passed ball. Shuler delivered the run with a triple to deep right field to push the King's edge to 2-0 heading into the final inning of the day.
 
King's defensive efforts remained firm in the seventh, putting away all three batters that stepped up to the plate, on their way to the 2-0 victory and pick up their third shutout of the season.
 
Shuler had a hit and an RBI in the win, while Anzalone and Badali each had a hit and a run. Furst threw the complete-game shutout, giving up just two hits in her 7.0 innings while fanning one.
 
Victoria Butler and Gretchen Yanss had the lone hits for Penn State Abington, while Yanss picked up the loss in her 6.0 innings of work, allowing tow runs on five hits.
 
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King's will look to finish their spring training trip strong tomorrow as they take on Marymount at 9:00 a.m. and Lancaster Bible at 11:00 a.m., both at the Central Park Sports Complex on Field 1.