MADISON, NJ (April 15, 2025) -- Both Paige Bergan and Harley Sullivan recorded multi-hit games, and Emily Novicki threw a gem in the night cap, but the King's College softball team were downed, 5-0 and 2-0, by the host FDU-Florham on Tuesday afternoon in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) play. The Monarchs move to 10-20 overall and 1-9 in the standings, while the Devils improved to 18-12 with a 4-4 conference mark.
 
Game 1 – L, 0-5:
The opener was a slow start as neither team got much going until the Devils plated three runs behind a home run from Grace Capparelli to lead, 3-0, through two. Megan Matsko put up a two-out double to left center to try and spark some offense in the third, but she was stranded as King's (10-20, 1-9 MAC Freedom) continued to trail, 3-0.
 
FDU-Florham (18-12, 4-4 MAC Freedom) knocked on the door again in the bottom of the fourth, but a ground out to Colleen Shuler at shortstop put an end to the frame to preserve the 3-0 score.
 
The Monarchs strung together a pair of hits in the top of the fifth on back-to-back two out singles from Sullivan and Jess Perella, but a fly out halted the efforts.
 
The Devils plated insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth to go ahead, 5-0, and the King's offense could not stage a comeback in the final frame as the Monarchs dropped the 5-0 decision in game one of the MAC Freedom doubleheader.
 
Sullivan went 2-for-4 to lead the Monarchs, while Matsko had a double and Perella also had a hit. Courtney Grogan picked up the loss as the starter, throwing 3.1 innings and allowing three earned runs on four hits, while Madisyn vonFrisch came on in relief, tossing 2.2 innings and giving up just one earned run on three hits.
 
Abigail Rodriguez led the Devils as she went 2-for-3 with a run and a double, while Capparelli drove in three of the five runs for the hosts. Erin Sinatra secured her 11^th win of the season in the complete game shutout as she allowed four hits.
 
Game 2 – L, 0-2:
Game two was a pitcher's duel from start to finish. FDU-Florham put up two hits in the bottom of the second to record the first hits in the game, but Novicki retired the final batter in the inning to preserve the scoreless affair.
 
After a quick third inning, Bergan singled to right field to lead off the top of the fourth but did not move as the Devils defense kept the Monarchs offense at bay. FDU-Florham then put up the first run in the contest in the bottom of the fourth behind three timely hits to jump ahead, 1-0.
 
There were no base runners in the fifth before Bergan again reached safely in the top of the sixth with an infield hit with two outs, but King's continued to struggle as she was left on base again. The hosts made sure to add some security in the bottom of the sixth behind a one-out double and two-out single through the left side as the Monarchs faced a 2-0 deficit heading into their final at bats.
 
Despite sending two balls to the outfield, the Devils defense shut the door on a King's comeback as the Monarchs fell, 2-0, in game two despite Novicki's gem.
 
Bergan tallied both hits in the setback for the Monarchs, while Novicki recorded the loss as she gave up two earned runs on seven hits while fanning a season-high 10 batters.
 
Capparelli finished off a strong outing to lead FDU-Florham as she went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Sinatra secured her second victory on the afternoon as she tossed the two-hitter shutout.
 
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King's will return to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. for their first home games since April 2 as they host Misericordia University on Thursday, April 17 at 3:00 p.m. in MAC Freedom play.