WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 29, 2025) -- A rallying effort in game two of their Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) opener salvaged a split for the King's College softball team with Arcadia University. The Monarchs fell, 9-1, in five innings in game one before responding to take the second, 5-3, at the Softball Field at Betzler on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. With the split, the Monarchs improve to 9-11 and pick up their first MAC Freedom win to move to 1-3, while the Knights stand at 7-15 with a 3-3 conference mark.
 
Game 1 – L, 1-9 (5 Innings):
The opener was all Arcadia (7-15, 3-3 MAC Freedom) as the Knights plated three runs on a hit in the top of the second. King's (9-11, 1-3 MAC Freedom) responded with a score in the bottom of the frame as singles from Ellie Higdon, Colleen Shuler, and Breanna Goldspiel set up the scoring play to close within 3-1.
 
A quick third inning saw just one hitter reach safely in Paige Bergan with a lead off single, but the Knights reignited their offense to plate three runs in both the fourth and the fifth. Despite a lead-off walk from Alyssa Fox, a double from Bergan, and a one-out walk from Novicki, the Monarchs could not trim away at the deficit as they fell, 9-1, in five innings in game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.
 
Bergan went 3-for-3 on the day with a double, while Shuler was 2-for-2 with a run. Novicki recorded the loss, allowing five earned runs on five hits while striking out three.
 
Five different Knights recorded a hit in the win, while Alexa Kozarski drove in a pair with a double. Paige Nolan earned the win despite allowing seven hits and issuing three walks.
 
Game 2 – W, 5-3:
After honoring their eight graduating members between games, the Monarchs came to life to salvage the split and pick up their first conference win in the night cap. After giving up a run on a pair of hits in the top of the first and another score on four hits in the top of the third, the King's offense delivered a monstrous bottom of the third inning that proved the difference in the game.
 
Goldspiel worked a lead off walk and advanced to second on a single by Harley Sullivan. Fox moved the runners up a base before Bergan drove in Goldspiel to plate the first run of the game. With two outs, King's really made their move in the game as Madison Badali, Jess Perella, and Shuler worked consecutive walks to tack on another run. Megan Matsko then drove a ball up the middle to score Perella and Badali as the Monarchs jumped ahead, 5-2.
 
The final four frames were fast paced as Arcadia totaled four more hits, scoring once in the top of the seventh, but the King's defense remained steady as they posted the 5-3 final in game two with Arcadia on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
 
Matsko had a hit and two RBIs to lead the Monarchs offense. Madisyn vonFrisch went the distance to pick up the win in the circle, allowing three earned runs while striking out three.
 
Stephanie Binek, Caity Hinton, and Kyleigh Mihalik each had two hits for the Knights. Mac Champion was awarded the loss as the starter, throwing the first 2.2 innings and giving up five earned runs on two hits with four walks.
 
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King's will prepare for their sixth straight home date on Monday afternoon as they host the University of Scranton in non-conference play. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Softball Field at Betzler.