MARCH 23, 2006
KING'S SOFTBALL POSTS DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF LYCOMING
WILKES-BARRE -- The King's College softball picked a pair of big early-season victories as the Lady Monarchs utilized four home runs to post an impressive doubleheader sweep of fellow Freedom Conference contender Lycoming College Thursday at Betzler Fields.
King's, which was picked first in the Freedom Conference pre-season coaches poll, won the first game 8-1 before taking the nightcap 12-1 in five innings. Lycoming was predicted to finish second in the same poll.
In the opener, King's took advantage of three Warrior errors to take a 2-0 first inning lead. After Lycoming scored a run in the third inning, the Lady Monarchs countered with a run of their own in the fourth when Mari Valonis belted a solo home run over the right centerfield fence off of Lycoming standout senior hurler Morgan Mantle.
King's would then put the game away with five runs in the fifth inning. Annie Drimones and Abbey Knoblauch would each single before Nikki Kotula delivered a two-run double. After Kate Shiffer drew a two out walk, Cassy Shiffer drilled a three-run home run off of Mantle to extend the lead to 8-1.
Kotula was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI and also improved to 3-1 by picking up the pitching victory with a complete-game four hitter. Mantle, meanwhile, was tagged for eight runs, six which were earned, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out 10 batters. Holly Billow added an RBI single for Lycoming.
In the second game, King's took a 3-0 lead after a two-run single by Kate Shiffer and a run-scoring single by Kelsey Shreaves. The Lady Monarchs extended the lead to 6-0 in the second thanks to RBI single by Kotula and a bases loaded walk to Kate Shiffer. Kotula would later score on a wild pitch.
King's built a 7-0 lead in the third when Lady Monarch starting pitcher Kelsey Shreaves aided her own cause with a leadoff solo home run. After Lycoming scored a run in the top half of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 7-1, King's would tack on five more runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Valonis would spark the onslaught by launching a towering solo home run, her second of the day, far beyond the left center field fence. After walks to Kate and Cassy Shiffer, Shreaves delivered an RBI double. Leanne Harvey would then follow with an RBI single. Shreaves would later score from third on a double steal before Harvey came home following a Lycoming error with the final run of the game.
Shreaves was 3-for-3 with two runs and three RBI while earning the pitching victory with a five-inning three-hitter to improve to 3-0 on the year. Knoblauch added two hits while Kate Shiffer knocked in three runs.
Kristen Reese took the loss for Lycoming, allowing all 12 runs, 10 which were earned, on 10 base hits and seven walks. Marissa Hastings delivered an RBI single for the Warriors.
King's will next travel to Center Valley to face DeSales University Saturday at 1:00 p.m. before returning home Sunday to host Division III national power Cortland State in a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.
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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