APRIL 15, 2004
BOB ZIADIEKOTULA TWIRLS FIRST COLLEGIATE NO-HITTER AS KING'S SWEEPS LYCOMING
WILKES-BARRE -- King's College freshman pitcher Nikki Kotula twirled her first collegiate no-hitter as the Lady Monarch softball team posted a doubleheader sweep of visiting Lycoming College in a Freedom Conference doubleheader Thursday at Betzler Fields.
The Lady Monarchs won the first game 5-1 before capturing the nightcap 3-0. With the wins, King's improved to 24-4 overall and 8-0 in the Freedom Conference while Lycoming slipped to 10-12 and 4-6.
In the nightcap, Kotula and Lycoming start hurler Morgan Mantle both were brilliant as each entered the fifth inning with no-hitters.
King's, however, took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Linda Manarchuk led off with a walk, stole second base, and moved to third on an infield out. Stacey Preambo was then out on a ground ball to third, but Manarchuk best the throw from first base to touch home.
In the fifth, Kotula led off with a double and scored on another double from Mari Valonis. After a single by Cassy Shiffer, Christen Piccola drove in Valonis from third with an infield grounder as the Lady Monarchs built a 3-0 lead. Kotula, who retired 14 straight batters to end the game, allowed just two Lycoming players to reach base, both on walks. Kotula improved to 7-0 with the win.
Mantle. meanwhile, was outstanding as she allowed just three hits and struck out eight King's batters.
In the opener, the Lady Monarchs took a 3-0 lead in the second inning when Kristin Brady led off with a solo home run. After Sarah Genewski doubled, Valonis hit a towering home run well past the right field fence. Lycoming would score a run in the third when Christine Caroselli singled and later scored on an RBI double from Jen Shaffer.
King's would take advantage of two Lycoming errors in the sixth to add a pair of unearned runs and seal the win.
Genewski picked the pitching win while improving to 12-2 on the year. Kotula, who pitched the final two innings, earned the save.
King's will return to action Saturday when the Lady Monarchs visit DeSales University in a 1:00 p.m. Freedom Conference matchup in Center Valley.
King's College
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Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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