EDWARDSVILLE, PA (Feb. 26, 2025) – The King's College baseball team dropped a heartbreaking season opener to the Colonels of Wilkes University on Wednesday afternoon at Bruggeworth Field. With the 7-5 loss, the Monarchs begin the 2024-25 campaign 0-1 as the Colonels notch their first win of the season and move to 1-2.

Kevin Kullman got the offense going in the third inning after hitting a single with the bases loaded, allowing Zach Day to advance to second and Jaiden Wanamaker and Owen Kosar to put two runs up for the Monarchs. The Colonels responded quick, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-2 lead.

In the fourth inning, Brendan Kopec scored off a sacrifice fly to left field from Wanamaker to cut the lead to 4-3. Day went on to hit a single, allowing Jacob Sutton to score and tie the game at 4-4 in the sixth inning. The Monarchs regained the lead as Kullman hit his second single of the game, advancing runners to second and third as Troy Neff reached home.

The next inning, Wilkes' Jack Mathis was hit by a pitch with the bases were loaded, sending runners to second and third and scoring Richie Rossi, tying the game back up at 5-5. The Colonels ran away with it in the eighth inning, scoring two runs and notching three quick outs in the top of the ninth to seal their first win of the season.

Neff, Wanamaker, Kopec, Kosar and Sutton all recorded runs as Day and Kullman posted two hits each and Kullman concluded the day with three RBI's. Pitchers Connor Reynolds, Aydan Davis, Matt Masala, Justin Hoadley and Dusty Shaver all made appearances on the mound, but senior Vincent Mattio received the loss after throwing 16 pitches as the closer.

The Monarchs next travel up the road to Dunmore, PA for a double header with Penn State Scranton on Saturday, March 1 at 12 and 2:30 p.m.