SOFTBALL

APRIL 1, 2006

KING'S, WILKES SPLIT TWIN BILL, REMAIN TIED FOR CONFERENCE LEAD

Edwardsville -- Kelsey Shreaves tossed a complete game one-hitter to lead the King's College softball team to a 9-1 victory in the second game as the Lady Monarchs salvaged a split with local rival Wilkes University. Wilkes won the first game 2-1.

With the split, King's now stands at 18-4 overall while Wilkes is 9-9. The teams are deadlocked in a first-place tie in the Freedom Conference standings with identical 5-1 records.

In the nightcap, Shreaves gave up a solo home run to Samantha Evanich in the first inning to give Wilkes a 1-0 lead. However, that was the last hit that Wilkes would get off of the freshman as Shreaves retired 17 of the final 19 hitters. The only two Lady Colonels to reach base during the stretch did so via the walk.

King’s would plate four runs in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Kate Shiffer singled and moved to second on an error. Shreaves followed with a single to score pinch-runner Nicole Conger and tie the game at 1-1. With Shreaves on third and two outs, Leanne Harvey singled up the middle to give King’s a 2-1 lead. Singles by Abbey Knoblauch and Justine Maggio loaded the bases before Kotula singled to score two runs and give the Lady Monarchs a 4-1 advantage.

King’s would pad their lead with five runs in their final at-bat. Harvey reached on an error and Knoblauch singled to start the inning. After both runners advanced on a passed ball, Maggio walked to load the bases. Kotula drilled a bases-clearing double that upped the King’s lead to 7-1. A single by Mari Valonis would scored Kotula and make it 8-1. Cassie Shiffer would single to score Valonis with the game’s final run.

Kotula had two hits, including a double, and drove in five runs to pace the Lady Monarchs offensively. Knoblauch and Valonis contributed two singles apiece.

In the opener, Wilkes junior Laurie Agresti twirled a one-hitter and Evanich drilled a two-run homerun to lead the Lady Colonels to a 2-1 victory.

The Lady Colonels scored both of their runs in the bottom of the first inning in the opener. With one out Allison Grohol singled and Evanich followed with her sixth home run of the season to give Wilkes a 2-0 lead.

The score remained the same until the fourth when Kate Shiffer drew a one-out walk and Shreaves cracked a double to put runners on second and third. Cassie Shiffer would drive home Kate Shiffer with a sacrifice fly to cut the Wilkes lead to 2-1.

Agresti, however, retired the last nine hitters she faced to seal the victory.

Nikki Kotula enjoyed a solid effort for King’s in the circle, allowing just two first inning hits. She struck out seven and walked four as the hard-luck loser.