CENTER VALLEY, PA (April 27, 2024) - - Chase Yochem, Zach Day, and Kevin Kullman all hit home runs in King's College baseball's final Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom doubleheader of the season at DeSales University today. The Monarchs came up short 8-7 in both games with the second game going into 10 innings. King's ends its MAC Freedom play with a 5-16 record and 11-23 overall record. 

Game 1- L, 8-7 (7 innings)
Despite neither team scoring in the first inning, the Bulldogs took the first lead of the day in the bottom of the second inning after scoring three runs. DeSales picked up its first of the day on a sacrifice fly that advanced a runner home and allowed two other Bulldogs to reach second and third on the throw. The next DeSales batter reached on an error, allowing the Bulldogs to get their second run. One last batter singled to center field for a third RBI before the end of the inning to give DeSales a 3-0 lead. 

King's was quick to respond at the top of the third inning as Chase Yochem stepped up to the plate and ripped a three-run homer to tie the game 3-3. The Bulldogs broke the tie on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to go up 4-3. DeSales then picked up two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI from both a single and double to put 6-3 on the scoreboard. JT Anderosky hit a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to help the Bulldogs advance to 8-3.

The Monarchs began to make a comeback in the sixth inning when Kullman hit a two-run homer to bring King's within just three runs of DeSales. They then held off the Bulldogs from scoring again in the bottom of the inning before Yochem stepped up to the plate in the top of the seventh to hit a two-run double, which put King's within just one run of DeSales. Unfortunately, the Monarchs still came up short as the Bulldogs won 8-7. 

Yochem went four-for-four in the batter's box for the Monarchs for five RBIs and two runs. Kullman ended the game with two RBIs and one run, while Brennen Schneider added two runs and Day and Zach Jenkins each scored one. Matt Masala took the mound for the Monarchs and finished with a 3.2 IP and two strikeouts. Josh Kilvitis contributed two strikeouts as well. 

Game 2- L, 8-7 (10 innings)
The Bulldogs took an early lead in game two after scoring their first run in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly. DeSales continuted to build onto its lead in the second inning on a single before the runners advanced again on the throw for an RBI. The Bulldogs lead 2-0 until the top of the third when the Monarchs picked up their first run of the second game. Kullman got on base by fielder's choice, but DeSales overthrew to second base, allowing Day to advance home to put 2-1 on the scoreboard for King's. Day then tied things up at 2-2 for King's hitting a home run – his third of the weekend – in the first at-bat of the fifth inning.

The Monarchs went to town at the plate in the top of the sixth inning to give themselves a five-run lead. Kullman gave King's its first two RBIs of the inning on a single to right center field. Nick Ciszak followed in similar fashion as her sent Yochem in to score the RBI on yet another single to center field. Jaiden Wanamaker singled through the left side for two more runs for the Monarchs, putting them at 7-2 ahead of the Bulldogs before entering the bottom of the inning. DeSales responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning, including one RBI on a triple hit by JT Anderosky to put 7-4 on the scoreboard. 

DeSales played tough defense in the field at the top of the seventh inning to hold off the Monarchs before scoring its fifth run in the bottom of the inning to get within two runs of King's at 7-5. Neither team scored in the eighth inning, and despite getting two runners on base in the top of the ninth, King's couldn't capitalize on the opportunity to score one last time. Gavin Zavorski stepped up to the plate first for the Bulldogs and doubled down the right field line to put himself in scoring position for just before Travis Kerr hit a single to send him home. DeSales tied things up after two runners stole second and third to get ready to score on a sacrifice fly to bring the score to 7-7 and send the game into extra innings.

The Bulldogs held the Monarchs to just four batters allowing only Day to get walked to base in the top of the tenth inning. DeSales then got on base in the first at-bat before Matt Worek hit a walk-off double to give the Bulldogs the game-winning run for a final score of 8-7 over King's.

Day went two-for-four at the plate hitting both a double and a home run for two runs and an RBI. Wanamaker had himself a day in the batter's box as well going four-for-five to earn two RBIs. Kullman also had two RBIs and a run, while Schneider, Yochem, and Ciszak added a run each. Ciszak also got an RBI. Adin Hoderewski ended the game with a 6.2 IP and allowed only 12 hits in facing 34 batters while throwing one strikeout. 

The Monarchs will play their final game of the 2024 season at home on Lipo Field Tuesday April 30 as first pitch is scheduled for 4 pm.