WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 14, 2024) -- On Sunday afternoon, the King's College softball team dropped a pair of Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) contests to the visiting Lebanon Valley College at Betzler Field. With the losses, the Monarchs fall to 10-15 overall and 1-8 in MAC Freedom play, while the Flying Dutchmen jump to 19-5 with an 8-1 conference mark.
 
Game 1 – L, 0-1 (8 Innings):
It was a defensive duel in the opener as the two teams combined for just 11 total hits in the game. Both squads put a runner on in the first two at bats, but some strong plays by the opposing defenses maintained the scoreless affair.
 
The offenses stalled through the third, but King's (10-15, 1-8 MAC Freedom) had the first opportunity to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Emily Novicki, Ellie Higdon, and Jessica Perella hit three consecutive singles, but the Flying Dutchmen defense held the runners as the game remained tied, 0-0.
 
It was not until the top of the eighth that Lebanon Valley (19-5, 9-1 MAC Freedom) broke through as a two-out single to left drove in the wining run as the Monarchs dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision in eight innings.
 
Higdon led the offense as she went 2-for-4 in the game. Novicki threw a gem, allowing just one earned run in the eight-inning contest while scattering four runs and fanning seven.
 
Megan Heard paced the Flying Dutchmen with a 2-for-3 effort with a double. Jordan Walter earned the win while giving up seven hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 1-9:
The night cap of the MAC Freedom doubleheader was a different story as the Lebanon Valley bats found a rhythm early, plating seven runs on seven hits through the first three innings. The King's defense settled in through the next two frames, but the Flying Dutchmen tacked on their eighth run in the top of the sixth to go ahead, 8-0.
 
The Monarchs found a way to get a run on the board in the bottom of the sixth as Harley Sullivan reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a one-out single to left center from Megan Mitola. Paige Bergan drove in Sullivan with a double to left as the game entered the final inning with King's trailing, 8-1.
 
The visitors tallied one final insurance run in the top of the seventh before closing the door on a King's comeback in the bottom of the inning to hand the Monarchs the 9-1 setback in the conference contest.
 
Four different Monarchs recorded hits in the setback. Brandi McIntosh picked up the loss as the starter, giving up six earned runs on six hits. Madisyn vonFrisch and Maura Furst both threw well in relief, allowing one earned run each.
 
Lindsey McCurdy was a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Erin Sinatra picked up her 10^th win of the season as she allowed just four hits and one run.
 
--
 
The Monarchs will begin preparations for a pair of mid-week non-conference road tests, starting with a quick trip up to Scranton, Pa. on Tuesday to take on Marywood University at 3:00 p.m.