WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 27, 2024) -- On Saturday afternoon, the King's College softball team dropped a pair of Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) contests, 4-3 and 6-1, to DeSales University at Betzler Field. The Monarchs wrapped up their season 12-22 overall and 3-11 in the conference, while the Bulldogs improved to 26-10 and 9-5 in the MAC Freedom.
 
Game 1 – L, 3-4:
King's (12-22, 3-11 MAC Freedom) eliminated an early two-hit effort by the DeSales (26-10, 9-5 MAC Freedom) offense and responded with a run in the bottom as Harley Sullivan led off with a triple to right center and came in on a single up the middle from Jessica Perella to go ahead, 1-0.
 
The game slowed over the next two frames with just one hit recorded before the Bulldogs scored their tying run on a two-out RBI single up the middle in the top of the fourth before going ahead, 2-1, off a solo home run in the top of the fifth.
 
The Monarchs answered, scored another tying run in the bottom of the fifth as Sullivan got on with a hit-by-pitch and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Perella. Paige Bergan walked to put two on with two outs before Emily Novicki drove in Sullivan to tie the game again, 2-2.
 
The Bulldogs went ahead again on a single in the top of the sixth and plated an insurance run on a pair of hits in the seventh as the Monarchs faced a 4-2 deficit heading into the final inning of play.
 
King's strung together a two-out comeback effort in the bottom of the frame as Bergan reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a single from Novicki. Nina Anzalone singled up the middle to drive in the run, but a fielder's choice silenced the spurt as the Monarchs fell, 4-3, in game one of the doubleheader.
 
Novicki and Anzalone each went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Sullivan scored two runs with her triple. Brandi McIntosh picked up the loss in the complete game, allowing eight hits and two earned runs.
 
Victoria Agnoli paced the Bulldogs as she went 3-for-4 with a run. Rachel Lowry earned the win as she went the distance, giving up three runs on nine hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 1-6:
The Bulldogs jumped out early in game two, scoring a run a pair of hits. Sullivan was the lone base runner in the next at bats before the Monarchs strung together back-to-back singles from Anzalone and Collen Shuler. A sacrifice bunt from Novicki moved the runners up a base before an infield ground out from Madison Badali scored the run to tie the game, 1-1.
 
DeSales exploded for three runs on as many hits in the third to take a 4-1 edge. The game slowed again as a one-out single from Perella in the bottom of the third was the lone hit heading into the sixth. Each team had a hit in the sixth before DeSales was able to drive in another two runs in the seventh to hand King's the 6-1 loss in the night cap.
 
Four different Monarchs put up hits in the loss, while Badali drove in one and Anzalone scored. Emily Novicki threw the complete-game while fanning five, including the 250^th of her career, with two earned runs on eight hits.
 
Paige Hromin led the Bulldogs with a 3-for-4 effort, plating two with a double. Alanna Hartzell collected the win, giving up just one earned run on four hits.