MARCH 25, 2003
BOB ZIADIE
MELENDEZ NINTH INNING GRAND SLAM
PROPELS MONARCHS TO WIN OVER ARCADIA
WILKES-BARRE -- Jason Melendez belted a
grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the King's
College baseball team to a thrilling 6-2 victory over Arcadia University
Tuesday at Betzler Fields.
With the game tied 2-2, King's Nick
Sorino reached first base when he was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice
bunt by Rob Medlock moved Sorino to second, the Monarchs would take
advantage of an Arcadia mistake. The Scarlet Knights attempted a pick-off
play at second base but an errant throw allowed Sorino to move to third
base. The Scarlet Knight then intentionally walked Dan Buckley and Chris
Persak to load the bases with one out. Melendez then drove a 1-1 pitch
over the left field fence for a dramatic walk-off home run, giving King's
the victory.
King's took a 1-0 lead in the first
when Chris Rispoli singled and later scored on a base hit by Jeff Wells.
Arcadia would tie the score at 1-1 with an unearned run in the fifth
before taking a 2-1 lead in the eighth when Justin Loomis led off the
inning with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
The Monarchs countered in the bottom
half of the inning when Bill Drazdowski singled and would later score on a
sacrifice fly off the bat of Jeremy Sauers, knotting the game at 2-2
entering the ninth frame.
Kyle Ehlis picked up the complete game
pitching win for King's with a solid effort on the hill. Ehlis scattered
eight hits while striking out three and yielding one earned run. With the
win, King's improved to 6-7 on the year.
The Monarchs will travel to Madison, NJ
on Friday to face Drew University at 3:00 p.m. The teams will then head
back to Wilkes-Barre to play a doubleheader at King's Betzler Fields
Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
