EDWARDSVILLE, PA (April 23, 2025) -- First year Meghan Marianelli hit her first career home run in game two to help forge the split as the King's College softball team fell, 4-1, in game one before posting the 4-0 shutout in game two at Wilkes University. With the split on Wednesday afternoon, the Monarchs move to 13-23 overall, while the Colonels stand at 13-13.
 
Game 1 – L, 1-4:
Wilkes (13-13) took advantage of a lead off single and a one-out double to plate the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, but King's (13-23) responded, scoring their first run in the top of the second. Ellie Higdon singled to left center and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Megan Matsko. A deep fly out from Colleen Shuler moved Higdon over to third before Alyssa Fox tripled to right to drive in Higdon and tie the game, 1-1, through two frames.
 
The Colonels struck again in the bottom of the fourth, plating two on two hits to jump ahead, 3-1, before tacking on their fourth run in the bottom of the sixth. The Monarchs recorded two more hits in the remainder of the game but could not drive in the equalizer as King's dropped game one, 4-1, in the non-conference doubleheader.
 
Paige Bergan went 2-for-3 to lead the offense, while Higdon had a hit and a run. Fox had a hit and an RBI, and both Matsko and Shuler doubled. Emily Novicki picked up the loss, allowing three earned runs on 10 hits while striking out seven.
 
Ally Stafursky went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI for the Colonels, and Mia Butka secured the win through 6.0 innings, allowing an earned run on seven hits.
 
Game 2 – W, 4-0:
After a scoreless first inning, the Monarchs got their bats going in the second. Shuler and Matsko singled to lead off the inning before Fox worked a two-out walk to load the bases. Breanna Goldspiel got on with a hit to right to plate a pair as King's came out to an early 2-0 advantage.
 
The visitors kept the ball rolling in the top of the third as Harley Sullivan singled to shortstop before Marianelli hit her first career bomb as the King's lead swelled to 4-0 through three frames.
 
The Colonels knocked on the door in the third with two hits and then again in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but a fly out to Goldspiel in left ended the threat and preserved the 4-0 lead.
 
Each team put up a hit in every inning down the stretch, but neither could drive in a run as the Monarchs secured the 4-0 shutout win to salvage the split in game two with Wilkes.
 
Marianelli went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run behind her first collegiate home run, while Sullivan went 2-for-4 with a run. Goldspiel drove in a pair off her hit, and Fox recorded her first collegiate win in the circle through 5.0 innings, holding the Colonels scoreless while giving up eight hits and striking out three. Both Courtney Grogan and Madisyn vonFrisch pitched single shutout frames as well in the win.
 
Olivia Dougher went 3-for-3 with two doubles to lead Wilkes in game two. Tessa Stafursky was awarded the loss as the starter, allowing four earned runs on six hits in 2.0 innings of work.
 
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The Monarchs will wrap up their 2025 regular season on the road on Saturday afternoon as they take on DeSales University. First pitch of the conference test is set for 1:00 p.m. in Center Valley, Pa.