WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 14, 2024) - - King's College baseball fell short against Lebanon Valley College this afternoon 12-5 after the Flying Dutchmen had a fifth inning surge at the plate in the final game of a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom series at home on Lipo Field. Chase Yochem and Brennen Schneider helped lead the Monarchs' offense as Yochem recorded two hits, two runs and an RBI in four at-bats while Schneider added two hits and three RBIs in four at-bats as well. King's is now 9-17 overall and 4-11 in MAC Freedom play, while Lebanon Valley advances to 14-13 overall and 8-7 in the MAC Freedom. 

The Monarchs played tough in the field forcing the Flying Dutchmen to go three-up-three-down in the top of the first inning. They transferred this momentum to offense in the bottom of the inning to pick up the first run of the day. Jaiden Wanamaker and Zach Day each got on base before Yochem singled to center field and sent Wanamaker to the plate to score to put the Monarchs ahead 1-0. 

The Flying Dutchmen did not hesitate with a response however and picked up four runs in the top of the second, including two off a double hit by Owen Berry, to put themselves on the scoreboard at 4-1 over King's. Lebanon Valley held off the Monarchs in the bottom of the inning, but King's plated another run in the third. Justin Stefanowicz grounded out to second in a double play, but gave Day the chance to score in the process, closing the Monarchs' gap down to 4-2. 

Lebanon Valley scored again in the top of the fourth inning before tallying three more in the fifth inning to build its lead to 8-2. The Monarchs bounced back in the bottom of the fifth inning though after earning two more runs when Schneider singled down the third base line for two RBIs to put 8-4 on the scoreboard.

Neither team scored again until the Flying Dutchmen plated their nineth run of the day in the top of the seventh off a single. Schneider responded with yet another single down the third baseline for his third RBI to help the Monarchs stay within four runs of Lebanon Valley. After another scoreless inning in the eighth, the Flying Dutchmen recorded three last minute runs in the nineth to finish the game with a final score of 12-5 over King's.

Caleb Graham had a season-best day on the mound for the Monarchs ending the game with a 4.0 IP and four strikeouts. At the plate, in addition to Yochem and Schneider's contributions, Wanamaker added two runs and a hit in three at bats, while Day put up a hit and a run. 

King's stays on its own pitch for the Monarchs' next game against non-conference opponent Marywood on Tuesday, April 16, at 4 pm.