SCRANTON, PA (April 1, 2024) -- In their first contests following the Easter holiday, the King's College softball team fell in a pair of non-conference games Monday afternoon, dropping the opener 9-3 before falling 7-1 in the night cap, at the University of Scranton. With the setbacks at Magis Field, the Monarchs stand at 10-10 overall, while the Lady Royals improved to 13-3.
 
Game 1 – L, 3-9:
King's (10-10) jumped out to an early lead in game one of the doubleheader as Breanna Goldspiel got on with a lead off walk and advanced to second on a bunt single from Jessica Perella. Back-to-back fielder's choices by the Scranton (13-3) defense allowed Goldspiel to cross safely and give the Monarchs the 1-0 edge after the top of the first.
 
The Lady Royals responded immediately, tying the game with a two-out RBI triple to right before taking their first lead of the day in the bottom of the second behind a four-run, five-hit effort as the hosts led, 5-1. Scranton continued to add to their edge, scoring three more in the bottom of the third as their lead swelled to 8-1.
 
The Monarchs bats came back to life in the top of the fourth as Harley Sullivan led off with a triple to right field. Walks from Kara Krouse and Madison Badali loaded the bases to set up an RBI walk from Tori Holena. BrookeLynn Walters then delivered the second run in the frame on a one-out RBI single through the left side as King's closed the deficit to 8-3.
 
The game slowed over the next stretch before Scranton plated their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth, and the Lady Royals shut down a Monarch comeback in the top of the seventh as King's fell, 9-3, in game one at Magis Field.
 
Walters had a multi-hit effort to lead the Monarchs, going 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, while Sullivan had a hit, run, and RBI in the setback. Maura Furst picked up her first loss of the season as the starter, going 2.2 innings and allowing seven hits and six earned runs, while Madisyn vonFrisch threw well in 3.1 innings of relief, giving up just two runs while striking out three.
 
Celia Totaro paced the Lady Royals at the plate, putting up a 3-for-4 game with a double, two runs, and two RBIs. Emma Tirollo was awarded the win in relief, going 2.0 innings and holding King's scoreless with just two hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 1-7:
Much like the first game, the Monarchs had a quick start as Goldspiel reached on a bunt single, advanced to second, and scored on a one-out RBI double down the right-field line from Ellie Higdon to put the visitors ahead, 1-0. The King's defense was strong through their first outing, including a strikeout from Courtney Grogan, to maintain the 1-0 edge.
 
Scranton broke through in the bottom of the second, scoring twice on a pair of hits before both teams settled in through two frames as there was just one hit recorded in the next stretch. The Lady Royals exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fourth behind a five-hit inning, but back-to-back infield pop outs allowed the Monarchs to wrap up the inning facing a 6-1 deficit.
 
Emily Novicki helped lead a quick three-batter inning for the King's defense in the bottom of the fifth, fanning the first and third hitter in the frame, but a one-out single in the top of the sixth off the bat of Perella was not enough to get the King's offense going.
 
The hosts found an edge again in the sixth, tacking on their final insurance run, and the Lady Royals defense took care of business in the top of the seventh to complete the sweep over King's, 7-1, on Monday afternoon.
 
Goldspiel, Perella, Higdon, and Badali all put up hits for King's, with Higdon driving in Goldspiel in the first. Grogan earned the loss through the first 3.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on five hits, while Novicki struck out four in the final three innings of relief.
 
Totaro had another solid performance in the night cap to lead Scranton, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, and an RBI. Soleil Dooner collected the win in the first 5.0 innings, allowing the earned run on three hits.
 
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The Monarchs will look to bounce back on Saturday afternoon as they host the visiting Delaware Valley University in their home Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) opener. First pitch of the doubleheader at the Softball Field at Betlzer is set for 1:00 p.m.