WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 24, 2024) -- A late comeback effort in game two of the non-conference doubleheader helped lead the visiting Wilkes University to wins of 10-4 and 4-2 over the King's College softball team on Wednesday afternoon at Betzler Field. With the setbacks, the Monarchs drop to 12-19 overall, while the Colonels improved to 21-11.
 
Game 1 – L, 4-10:
The Colonels got out to a strong start in the opener, plating two runs on a lead off home run and back-to-back one-out doubles to go ahead, 2-0. The game stalled as King's (12-19) put up two hits, a two-out single up the middle from Paige Bergan in the first and a lead off single through the left side by Ellie Higdon in the second, to just one by Wilkes (21-11) before the Monarchs got on the board in the bottom of the third.
 
Jessica Perella reached on a fielder's choice, moved up to second on a two-out single from Bergan, and scored on a single up the middle from Emily Novicki. Bergan then came in from third on a Colonel's error to tie the game, 2-2.
 
It was a quick fourth inning before Wilkes got back on the board, capitalizing on yet another lead off home run and another two hits in the frame to go ahead, 5-2. The visitors tacked on another two tallies in the sixth and three in the seventh as their lead swelled to 10-2.
 
The Monarchs made a comeback push in the bottom of the seventh as Madison Badali worked a lead off walk and came around to score on three straight hits from Harley Sullivan, Perella, and Bergan. Novicki then drove in Sullivan with a one-out single to left, but the Colonels defense delivered the final blow as King's fell, 10-4, in game one of the non-conference doubleheader.
 
Novicki went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, while Bergan tacked on a 3-for-4 effort with a run and an RBI. Additionally, Sullivan put up a multi-hit game with two and a run. Courtney Grogan picked up the loss as the starter, tossing 4.0 innings and giving up five earned runs on eight hits.
 
Hana Cross led the Colonels as she went 3-for-4 with three home runs, five RBIs, and four runs scored. Sami Hendershott secured the win through the first 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 2-4:
The second game of the day started much different, with Emily Novicki fanning two of the three outs in the top of the first and the lead off batter in the second to keep the Colonels hitters at bay. King's struck first, plating a run in the bottom of the second thanks to a two-out walk by Brianna Kesslick, a single from Nina Anzalone, and a Wilkes miscue as the Monarchs took the early 1-0 edge.
 
Both defenses came up with big plays to preserve the 1-0 contest as just five hits were recorded across the next four innings. Timely hitting from the visitors and some miscues by the King's defense in the top of the seventh saw the Colonels plate all four of their runs off two hits to go up, 4-1.
 
King's delivered a valiant effort in the bottom of the second as Kesslick reached on another two-out walk and advanced to second on a hit to center by Anzalone. Kara Krouse pinch ran for Kesslick and scored on a Wilkes error to climb within two, 4-2, but after a two-out walk from Harley Sullivan to load the bases, the Wilkes defense silenced the surge to hand the Monarchs the 4-2 loss in game two.
 
Anzalone paced King's with a  2-for-3 effort, while Perella and Bergan put up the other two hits for the Monarchs. Novicki went the distance and earned the loss in the complete-game, allowing just one earned run while striking out nine.
 
Seven different Colonels recorded hits in the game, while Haylee Calaman drove in three of the four runs for Wilkes. Lauren DeMarco collected her 10^th win of the season, giving up two runs on four hits.
 
--
 
King's is set to make up their second game against FDU-Florham on Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. at Betzler before hosting their MAC Freedom finale on Saturday against DeSales at 1:00 p.m.