WILKES-BARRE, PA (April 8, 2026) -- The King's College baseball team delivered its most dramatic comeback of the season Wednesday afternoon at Lipo Field, erupting for seven runs in the eighth inning to claim a 9-5 victory over Penn State Hazleton. The win lifts the Monarchs to 4-15 on the year, while the Nittany Lions drop to 12-13 overall.
Immediately following the the introduction of the starting lineups, King's recognized its Mental Health Awareness game in partnership with Morgan's Message; a non‑profit organization created in honor of Morgan Rodgers, a former Duke women's lacrosse player who lost her life following mental health struggles. A moment of silence was observed prior to first pitch to honor Morgan's legacy and to highlight the importance of mental health awareness across collegiate athletics.
Penn State Hazleton struck for two runs in the top of the first inning, but King's answered in the bottom of the second to stay even. Owen Kosar worked a leadoff walk and advanced before Nathan Gilson singled. Sean Noone was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for a two‑run single by Miles Carey that brought home Kosar and Gilson and tied the game at 2-2.
The Nittany Lions moved back in front with single runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings, but King's prevented the deficit from growing. J.P. Kehoe got the start on the mound and worked three innings, striking out one. Alexander Breitfeller followed with four innings of relief, stranding one aboard in the fourth and working a clean sixth with some help behind the dish from Zach Jenkins, who gunned down a runner attempting to steal second for the final out of the frame. The Monarch defense turned a 4‑6‑3 double play in the seventh to stop a threat and stay within three heading into an eventful eighth inning.
The game flipped in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the eighth. Tate Pentasuglio drew a leadoff walk and Mikey Timinski followed with a single before Troy Neff lined a two‑run single down the right‑field line to score both runners and cut the deficit to one. After Jason Cunha kept the rally alive with a pinch‑hit single, Ian Campbell pinch ran from him and came around to score the go-ahead run to make it 6-5. King's continued to apply pressure, adding runs on a two‑run double off the bat of Kevin Kullman and another when Pentasuglio reach on an error as the Monarchs sent 13 batters to the plate and surged ahead 9-5.
Jacob DiCicco entered during the comeback and worked 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one. Noah Gesford recorded the final out in the ninth inning as the Monarch bench poured onto the field to celebrate the comeback victory.
Carey went 2-for-4 with a two-run single that produced King's first two runs in the second inning. Neff finished with a two-run single during the eighth-inning comeback, while Kullman added a two-run double later in the frame. Pentasuglio scored twice and drove in a run, Timinski recorded two hits and scored during the rally, and Cunha added a pinch-hit single. King's totaled 10 hits and drew 10 walks in the win.
On the mound, Breitfeller provided the bridge innings before DiCicco earned his first collegiate win and Gesford recorded his first collegiate save, closing out a late come-from-behind win.
The Monarchs are back in action on Friday, April 10, hosting FDU-Florham in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom showdown. First pitch against the Devils is set for 3:30 p.m.
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