WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 26, 2025) -- Amid a Wednesday-afternoon flurry, the King's College softball team swept the visiting Penn State Schuylkill, 4-1 and 4-2, to snap a six-game skid. With the win at the Softball Field at Betzler, the Monarchs improve to 6-10 overall, while the Nittany Lions fall to 5-10.
 
Game 1 – W, 4-1:
It was a defensive standoff through the first three innings, with Emily Novicki striking out five and the King's (6-10) offense putting up three hits, but in the top of the fourth the Nittany Lions drove in the first run off a pair of hits to go up, 1-0.
 
The Monarchs worked their magic to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth as Alyssa Fox reached on an error, and Jess Perella walked to put two runners on with two outs. Harley Sullivan then reached on a Penn State Schuylkill (5-8) error to plate the run and knot the score at 1-1.
 
King's then tacked on another three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead. Novicki singled up the middle, and pinch runner Karleigh Weist stole second. Colleen Shuler worked a one-out walk before back-to-back singles from Megan Matsko and Jennifer Devens drove in two runs. A beautifully executed bunt-and-run from Fox allowed Matsko to score as the Monarchs edge swelled to 4-1.
 
The Nittany Lions loaded the bases with one out, but a double play that saw Kara Krouse throw the runner out at home and prevent the extra run and a foul out to Sullivan behind the plate secured the 4-1 win in game one for the Monarchs.
 
Novicki and Ellie Higdon each went 2-for-3 in the win, while Perella, Matsko, and Devens added a hit a piece. Novicki secured the win in the circle, allowing one earned run on five hits while fanning nine.
 
Emma Crisswell went 2-for-3 with a run, while Alyssa Youst matched that 2-for-3 effort with an RBI. Kaely Walshaw recorded the loss, giving up three earned runs on seven hits while walking four.
 
Game 2 – W, 4-2:
Game two told a different tale as each team put up a hit in the first before the Monarchs plated three runs in the bottom of the second. Higdon led off with a single and advanced to second on a single from Madison Badali. The pair moved up a base on a ground out from Madisyn vonFrisch, and a two-out walk from Matsko loaded the bases. Breanna Goldspiel delivered the first two runs with a double to right center, and a passed ball plated Matsko as the King's lead jumped to 3-0 after two frames.
 
The Monarchs tacked on their fourth run in the night cap in the bottom of the third as Sullivan led off with a walk, and Paige Bergan singled to put two on the bases. Badali had another timely hit to right to bring in Sullivan and increase the lead to 4-0 through three innings of work.
 
Penn State Schuylkill did not go down without a fight, scoring on two hits in the top of the fourth and again in the fifth off two hits to close within 4-2. The game saw just three hits across the final two innings as King's prevented any additional Nittany Lion runs to win, 4-2 and complete the sweep.
 
Badali went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI, while Bergan added a 2-for-3 effort with a triple. Goldspiel drove in two with her double, and Higdon had a hit and a run. vonFrisch recorded the win through the first 4.0 innings of action, allowing an earned run on three hits with three strikeouts, and Courtney Grogan threw well in 3.0 innings of relief.
 
Cealinn McGroarty led the Nittany Lions as she went 2-for-3. Emma Crisswell picked up the loss as she gave up seven hits and three earned runs.
 
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The Monarchs return to Betzler for their third-straight home date as they host Lancaster Bible in non-conference action tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.