APRIL 20, 2002
BOB ZIADIE
KING'S SOFTBALL SWEEPS LYCOMING TO CLINCH MAC PLAYOFF BERTH
WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College softball team clinched a MAC Freedom Conference playoff berth as the Lady Monarchs posted a doubleheader sweep of Lycoming College Saturday in Williamsport.
King's won the first game 4-1 before capturing the nightcap 6-1.
In the opener, Lycoming took a 1-0 first inning lead when Marianne Simpson reached base on an error and later scored on a RBI double by Amy Curry. King's answered in its half of the inning when Maria Zangardi doubled and scored on a single by Stacey Preambo.
The game would remain tied until the fifth inning when Kim Ball reached base on a one-out error and Linda Manarchuck posted an infield single. Michele Dlugosz then reached base on a fielderıs choice to load the bases. King's then took a 2-1 lead when Lisa Rizzo's infield grounder brought home pinch runner Christen Piccola. The Lady Monarchs then padded their lead when Zangardi stroked a two-run single to push the lead to 4-1.
Karen Ball picked up the pitching win for King's allowing just four hits and one unearned run while striking out two batters. Amanda Gery took the loss for Lycoming but was solid in allowing five hits with four strikeouts
In the second game, Lycoming 1-0 lead when Curry drilled a long fly ball deep to left field when Kingıs outfielder Linda Manarchuck attempted to make a lunging catch. The Lady Monarch sophomore would manage to cradle the ball in her glove but the momentum carried her over the top of the collapsible fence which gave way and fell to the ground. Officials would immediate declared Curryıs hit a home run.
King's countered with a run of its own in the second inning when Katie Seguin singled and move to third base on sacrifice bunts by Kim Ball and Manarchuck. Seguin would then steal home to knot the score at 1-1.
The Lady Monarchs added four runs in the third inning when Michele Dlugosz doubled and stole third base. King's coach Lisa Gigliello would then call for a suicide squeeze and Lisa Rizzo executed a text-book bunt which would score Dlugosz and give the Lady Monarchs a 2-1 lead.
Jess Harvey would then follow with a RBI double before Stacey Preambo came through with a single to give the Lady Monarchs runners at second and third with one out. From there, Seguin executed another suicide squeeze as her bunt brought home Harvey to push the lead to 4-1. King's added its final run of the inning when Kingıs pitcher Sarah Genewski helped her own cause by stroking a single up the middle to score Preambo and build a 5-1 lead.
King's added one more run in fifth when Seguin reached base on an error and later scored on another Lycoming error.
Genewski picked up the win in tossing a four-hitter while retiring 10 of the final 11 batters she would face.
With the sweep, King's improved to 28-5-1 overall and 10-2 in MAC Freedom Conference action. Lycoming slipped to 17-15 and 8-6 in conference play.
The Lady Monarchs will be idle until Thursday when King's hosts fellow 2001 NCAA national qualifier Cabrini College at 3:00 p.m. at Betzler Fields.
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
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Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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