WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 26, 2024) -- A tough fourth inning remained the difference in the contest as the King's College softball team fell, 7-6, to FDU-Florham in their make up Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) game on Friday afternoon at the Softball Field at Betzler. The Monarchs drop to 12-20 overall and 3-9 in the conference, while the Devils jump to 16-15 with a 5-7 conference mark.
 
King's (12-20, 3-9 MAC Freedom) had a strong start to the game, retiring the side in the top of the first before jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the frame. Harley Sullivan got on with a lead off walk and scored on a one-out triple to right center off the bat of Paige Bergan. Emily Novicki was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, and Nina Anzalone hit a sacrifice fly out to center to plate Bergan. Back-to-back singles from Ellie Higdon and Colleen Shuler drove in Novicki as the Monarchs went ahead, 3-0, early.
 
Another quick defensive inning saw the Monarchs eliminate a one-out double from the Devils before scoring again in the bottom of the second. Sullivan hit a one-out double to left and advanced to third on a ground out from Jessica Perella. Bergan delivered again, hitting a two-out single to right center to allow Sullivan to score and increase the King's edge to 4-0.
 
Each team put up a hit in the third before FDU-Florham (16-15, 5-7 MAC Freedom) took control in the top of the fourth, scoring all seven of their runs on nine hits to go ahead, 7-4.
 
The Monarchs answered as Sullivan continued her strong day at the plate with a lead off single to left center and moved up to second on a bunt single from Perella. Novicki singled through the left side to load the bases with just one out, and Anzalone drove in another with a sacrifice fly to left as King's closed within 7-5.
 
The King's defense silenced the Devils in the top of the fifth as their lead off runner reached on a hit by pitch but was thrown out at home on a great relay by Breanna Goldspiel and Colleen Shuler home to Sullivan to maintain the 7-5 deficit. Their efforts also eliminated two base runners in the top of the sixth before making another push at the plate in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Perella singled to center before Novicki hit a two-out double to left that brought in Perella as the Monarchs closed within one, 7-6. Courtney Grogan delivered a strikeout to start off the inning, and two outfield fly outs set up the final chance to overcome the deficit. Despite a one-out single and stolen base from Shuler, King's came up shy of a comeback bid as the Monarchs fell, 7-6, in the MAC Freedom contest on Friday afternoon.
 
Novicki was a perfect 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run, while Shuler went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Sullivan had a 2-for-3 day with a double and three runs, while Bergan drove in two and scored off a pair of hits. Additionally, Perella recorded two hits, and Anzalone drove in two. Madisyn vonFrisch was awarded the loss in 0.1 innings of relief, giving up three earned runs. Brandi McIntosh threw well through the first 3.1 innings, striking out three, while Grogan finished the game in the final 3.1 frames and held the Devils scoreless of four hits with four strikeouts.
 
Kristen Tigar, Abigail Rodriguez, and Jada Lambright all had three-hit efforts to lead the Devils in the win. Bianca DiSanto threw the final 6.0 innings in relief and secured the win, giving up two earned runs on 10 hits.
 
King's will wrap up their regular season tomorrow as they host DeSales University in MAC Freedom play. First pitch of the doubleheader at Betzler is set for 11:00 a.m.