MARCH 31, 2007
KING'S, WILKES SOFTBALL TEAMS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER
WILKES-BARRE -- In a rematch of the 2006 Freedom Conference championship game, defending titlist Wilkes University and host King's College battled to a doubleheader split Saturday at Betzler Fields. Wilkes won the opener 1-0 while King's captured the nightcap 2-1.
With the split, King's stands at 12-6 overall and 3-1 in Freedom Conference play. Wilkes, meanwhile, is 7-7 and 1-1 in conference action.
In the opener, Wilkes pushed across the only run of the game in the fourth inning when sophomore third-baseman Melisa Bracone registered a leadoff solo home run. The run held up as Wilkes standout hurler Laurie Agresti managed to work out of numerous jams throughout the contest. Over the course of the seven-inning game, Agresti stranded 13 King's runners, allowing nine hits but striking out 10 Lady Monarch batters to improved her season mark to 5-2.
King's sophomore pitcher Amanda Rizner was the hard-luck loser, allowing the game's only run while surrendering just five hits in the game. Samantha Evanich led Wilkes offensively with two hits while Annie Drimones led King's nine-hit attack with three base hits.
The nightcap featured another pitcher's dual between King's Kelsey Shreaves and Wilkes' Evanich. Wilkes took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning when Nicole McCloskey singled, moved to second base on a bunt by Katie Orr. Orr would advance to third on the play when a subsequent throw to second base sailed into left field, allowing Orr to move to third. McCloskey would then score the first run of the contest on another King's error.
King's would counter with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Becky Loring came up with a leadoff single and Christy Parfitt drew a walk. Loring would move to third on force play at second as Meghan Galvin reached first for King's. Abby Knoblauch then came though with a clutch RBI single to score pinch runner Kaitlin Liszewski. Justin Maggio reached first base when pinch runner Caitlyn McAndrew beat out an attempted force play at second base to load the bases. Leanne Harvey would then deliver a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Knoblauch with what proved to be the game-winning run.
Shreaves picked up the win, tossing a three-hitter while striking out four batters. Evanich took the loss, scattering six hits and striking out three batters. King's sophomore Julie Bidwell led both teams with two base hits in the contest.
King's returns to action Sunday when the Lady Monarchs travel to face College Misericordia at 1:00 p.m.
King's College
133 North River Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
1 (888) KINGS PA
Questions or comments to: Bob Ziadie, King's College Sports Information Director
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