SALISBURY, MD (March 16, 2025) – The King's College softball team battled on day two of the Margie Knight Softball Classic hosted by Salisbury University, but they ultimately dropped both in a 5-0 setback to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and a 2-1 decision to New York University (NYU). The Monarchs return north after their spring training trip with a 4-6 overall record.
 
vs. Worcester Polytechnic Institute – L, 0-5:
Both teams made quick work of each other through the first three innings as there were just two hits recorded through the frames. WPI (6-2) finally got on the board I the top of the fourth with two runs on three hits. The Engineers put three runners on in the fifth, but the King's (4-5) defense shut down the efforts to preserve the 2-0 deficit.
 
Megan Matsko got on in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out walk and advanced to second o n a single by Breanna Goldspiel, but the WPI defense turned a double play to silence the productive inning by the Monarchs.
 
After a quick sixth inning, the Engineers tacked on three insurance runs off three hits as the lead swelled to 5-0. Meghan Marianelli got the bats going for King's in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out single to left, but the WPI defense came up clutch again with another double play as the Monarchs dropped the 5-0 decision in game one of their Sunday afternoon match ups.
 
Goldspiel and Marianelli had the lone two hits in the game for the Monarchs. Alyssa Fox recorded the loss while fanning two.
 
Liz Jordan led the Engineers as she went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Kaitlyn Barr improved to 2-0 on the season in the complete-game shutout.
 
vs. New York University – L, 1-2:
The final game of their 10-match stretch over spring break was a thriller from start to finish. King's (5-5) struck first as Karleigh Weist was hit by a pitch to lead off the game, advanced to second on a single from Madison Badali, and scored on an RBI double to left from Harley Sullivan as the Monarchs led, 1-0.
 
NYU (5-7) responded in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a one-out walk and a two-out single to center to tie the game, 1-1, after just one inning of work.
 
The Violets had the only hit over the next to frames as a defensive battle ensued. Cadee Munjone led off the fourth with a single to right, and Tori Holena was hit by a pitch to put two on base to start the inning. NYU settled in defensively to shut the door on a productive inning for King's. It was a similar story in the bottom half of the inning as two Violets reached base, but the ball did not lead the infield down the stretch on a pop out to shortstop and a ground out to third base to preserve the 1-1 stalemate.
 
The fifth and sixth innings were uneventful with just one NYU hit in the bottom of the sixth breaking up the action to set up the thrilling seventh frame.
 
Goldspiel led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Colleen Shuler. The NYU defense delivered again as they stifled the King's offense and set up the final at bats. The Violets had the answer late, capitalizing on a lead off walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases. Shuler threw out the runner advancing to home in the next at bat, but a timely outfield hit from NYU drove home the winning run as King's dropped the 2-1 decision in the second game of their final day in Salisbury.
 
Badali, Sullivan, and Munjone all had a hit for the Monarchs, with Weist scoring and Sullivan recording the RBI. Emily Novicki posted the loss, allowing just one earned run on eight hits with four strikeouts.
 
Alyssa Quary and Naya Schubel put up two hits each for the Violets, while Marina Egbert was awarded the win in relief, throwing the final 3.0 scoreless innings.
 
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King's will finish their journey north as they return home and prepare for their home opener at the Softball Field at the Betzler Athletic Complex. The Monarchs are set to host Muhlenberg in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday, March 20 at 3:00 p.m.