WILKES-BARRE, PA (March 22, 2026)—The King's College softball team opened up MAC-Freedom play with a doubleheader split against DeSales University on Sunday at Betzler Field. The Monarchs dropped the first game, 5-3, before bouncing back with a 6-3 win in game two. The split moves King's to 6-10 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while the Bulldogs now stand at 4-6 and 1-3 in the MAC-Freedom.
 
Game 1 – L, 5-3
 
Both teams traded scoreless innings early, as the game developed into a pitcher's duel through the first three frames with limited baserunners on either side.
 
DeSales broke the scoreless tie in the fourth, taking advantage of four hits to plate three runs and take a 3-0 lead.
 
King's responded in the fifth inning, capitalizing on a leadoff double from Paige Bergan. After an error and a single loaded the bases, Kara Krouse delivered the big swing with a bases-clearing double to right center, tying the game at three apiece.
 
The Bulldogs regained the lead in the seventh inning, opening the frame with a double before following with an RBI single and adding another run on a fielder's choice to take a 5-3 advantage.
 
King's was unable to answer in the bottom half, as DeSales secured the game one victory.
 
Bergan led the Monarch offense with two hits, while Krouse recorded a double and drove in all three runs. Matsko, Larson, and Badali each added a hit as King's totaled six in the contest.
 
In the circle, Madisyn vonFrisch went the distance, allowing five runs on 10 hits while issuing two walks over seven innings.
 
 
Game 2 – W, 6-3
 
King's jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, showcasing a potent combination of timely hitting and aggressive base running. Kara Krouse and Breanna Goldspiel led off with singles before Paige Bergan doubled to drive in both runners. Megan Matsko followed with an RBI double, and Meghan Marianelli added a single later in the inning, helping the Monarchs plate four runs in the first.
 
King's maintained momentum through the second inning, adding another run on a sequence of singles and a fielding error, stretching their advantage to 5-0. The Monarchs continued to put pressure on the DeSales defense, forcing two more errors and keeping runners on base consistently.
 
In the top of the fifth, DeSales threatened to spark a rally, but a spectacular leaping play by Kara Krouse in center ended the inning and kept the Monarchs' lead firmly intact. DeSales managed only one run in the fifth to break the shutout.
 
The Monarchs' bats came alive again in the sixth inning as Paige Bergan and Megan Matsko delivered timely hits, with Matsko driving in Bergan to push the lead to 6-2.
 
DeSales added a late run in the seventh inning, but the Monarchs' pitching and defense held strong to secure the victory.
 
King's balanced contributions across the lineup were key to the win. Paige Bergan finished with three hits and two RBIs, Megan Matsko recorded three hits and two RBIs, and Breanna Goldspiel added three hits.
 
Alyssa Fox was dominant in the circle, going the distance while allowing just three runs on eight hits, striking out three, and walking one in the win as she improves to 4-4 on the season.
 
The Monarchs return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 24 as they head to Schuylkill Haven, PA to take on Penn State-Schuylkill in a doubleheader with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m.