WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 24, 2024) - - In a thrilling 11 inning game, King's College baseball defeated Muhlenberg College 7-6 after Jacob Sutton hit a walk off single to left center to send Brennen Schneider home for the game-winning run at home on Lipo Field in a non-conference game this afternoon. Sutton also added a triple while Schneider contributed a double for the Monarchs. King's advances to 10-21 overall this season after today's win as while the Mules get setback to 8-26.

After a scoreless opening three innings for both King's and Muhlenberg, the Monarchs put themselves on the scoreboard for the first lead of the game. Schneider led-off for King's with a walk followed by a single from Kevin Kullman before Michael Marmolejos laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance them to second and third. Zach Jenkins then stepped to the plate and singled to left field to send both runners home for two RBIs.

The Monarchs continued to lead 2-0 until they added another run to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Marmolejos sent a single to center field to send Schneider in to score again to build King's lead to 3-0. The Mules responded with their first run of the game in the top of the sixth on an RBI single to right field. 

Muhlenberg then took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh inning as they scored four runs to get ahead 5-3 over King's. The Mules tabbed RBIs on two separate singles to tie the game at 3-3 before Marc Quarrie hit a two-run double to center field to give Muhlenberg the lead. 

The Monarchs wasted no time with an answer however and earned three more runs in the bottom of the inning to take back their lead. King's had the bases loaded with Nick Ciszak on third, Schneider on second after hitting a double and Kullman on third before they each advanced on a pass ball, allowing Ciszak to score the team's fourth run. Despite Marmolejos grounding out in the next at-bat, it gave Schneider the opportunity to score the fifth and tying run. Sutton then ripped a triple to center field to put the Monarchs ahead 6-5 going into the eighth inning. 

Neither team scored again until the Mules tied the game back up in the top of the nineth inning. Nick Whelan hit an RBI double to right field to put 6-6 on the scoreboard. The Monarchs were unable to score in the bottom of the inning and the game went into extra innings.

King's allowed on runner on base in the top of the tenth, but quickly made up for it with a double play to end the inning. The Mules played strong defensively to keep the Monarchs from getting on base in the bottom of the tenth, forcing an eleventh inning. Zach Day struck out two before Muhlenberg flew out to center field for a quick three-up-three-down. 

Schneider led off the bottom of the eleventh with a walk before Kullman put down a sacrifice bunt to advance him to second. This put him in scoring position for Sutton to send a walk-off single to left center and allow Schneider to score the game-winning run to secure the 7-6 win for King's over Muhlenberg. 

Sutton led the Monarchs' offense going three-for-five at the plate with a triple and two RBIs. Schneider racked up four runs for King's and a hit, while Kullman also contributed two runs and three hits. Marmolejos and Jenkins each added a hit and two RBIs as well. Day earned his first win of the season on the mound with 0 ER in 2.2 IP and tallying three strikeouts. Adin Hoderweski threw four strikeouts as well in 1.2 IP.

The Monarchs return to Lipo Field this Friday, April 26, for their last home Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game of the season against DeSales. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm.