WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 24, 2026) -- The King's College baseball team concluded its Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom slate with a doubleheader against Delaware Valley University on Thursday afternoon at Lipo Field, dropping the opener, 23-1, before earning a 7-7 tie in the nightcap, which was called after eight innings due to darkness. The Monarchs move to 6-25-1 overall and 1-19-1 in MAC Freedom play, while the Aggies stand at 16-22-1 overall and 7-13-1 in conference action.
 
Although the doubleheader was played at Lipo Field, Delaware Valley was designated as the home team for both games as the contests were originally scheduled to be played at Del Val, preserving lineup order and home-team status for the Aggies.
 
Game 1 - Delaware Valley 23, King's 1
King's struck first in the opener, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Troy Neff reached base to open the game and later scored when Jaiden Wanamaker lined an RBI single to give the Monarchs an early 1-0 lead. Delaware Valley answered immediately in the bottom of the inning before breaking the game open with five runs in the third and five more in the fourth to take control, leading 11-1.
 
Despite the growing deficit, the Monarchs turned in several highlights early. In the bottom of the third inning, Neff charged in from center field and made a diving catch for the second out. An inning later, Noah Gesford unleashed a stand-up double to left field that one-hopped to the wall in the top of the fourth.
 
Del Val continued to apply pressure throughout the middle innings and put the game out of reach with a 10-run sixth inning, sealing the 23-1 conference victory.
 
Wanamaker accounted for the Monarchs' lone RBI in the opener, while Gesford finished with the team's only extra-base hit. Neff reached base early to jumpstart the first-inning score as King's scattered four hits on the afternoon.
 
Game 2 - King's 7, Delaware Valley 7 (8 innings, called due to darkness)
The Monarchs came out strong in the nightcap, erupting for five runs in the top of the first inning. Neff reached base to start the frame and later scored on an RBI double by Timinski. Owen Kosar followed with a run-scoring fly ball, and Nathan Gilson added an RBI single to extend the lead. Tate Pentasuglio drove in another run with a sacrifice fly, and Joshua Quinones capped the inning by drawing a bases-loaded walk to make it 5-0 King's.
 
Del Val chipped away at the lead over the next several innings, trimming the deficit and eventually pulling in front, 6-5, by the sixth. King's defense helped prevent further damage, as in the bottom of the third, a sharply hit ground ball took a tough hop on Kevin Kullman at third base, but a quick reactionary glove allowed Kullman to throw out the runner at first for the out number one. An inning later, with the Aggies threatening, the Monarchs turned a crucial 4-6-3 double play to escape the sixth and keep the margin at one.
 
Trailing 6-5 in the top of the seventh, King's manufactured the tying run with speed and discipline. Nathan Gilson worked a one‑out walk before Ian Campbell came on as a pinch runner, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball. Campbell crossed the plate on Pentasuglio's sacrifice fly to left field to even the game at six. In the top of the eighth, Brayden Schoonmaker led off with a single and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Neff before Timinski lined an RBI double to right‑center, giving the Monarchs a 7-6 lead.
 
Del Val responded in the bottom of the eighth to knot the game at seven. Earlier in the bottom of the seventh, King's delivered another key stop, as Quinones made a smooth backhanded grab on a chopper to shortstop and fired across the diamond for the first out. With darkness setting in and neither team able to break the tie, play was halted after eight innings.
 
King's offense was sparked by the five-run opening frame, with Timinski, Gilson, Pentasuglio, and Quinones all driving in runs, while Neff consistently set the tone at the top of the order. The Monarchs showed balance throughout the lineup, capitalizing early and responding late to stay in the game.
 
The defensive effort played a major role in keeping the nightcap alive, as King's turned momentum-saving double plays and made key stops in the infield and outfield. Quinones anchored the defense up the middle, and Kullman's reactionary play at third helped limit further damage as the game moved into the late innings.
 
The Monarchs conclude the 2026 season on Wednesday, April 29th, hosting cross-town rival Wilkes University in a nonconference matchup. First pitch against the Colonels is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.