APRIL 7, 2018
MONARCHS SWEPT BY COLONELS IN DOUBLEHEADER
WILKES-BARRE, PA --- The King's College baseball team was swept by visiting Wilkes University in two close games at Lipo Field on Saturday afternoon in Wilkes-Barre. The Colonels scored nine runs in the 12th inning to take the opener 13-6 and won a 3-1 pitcher's duel in the nightcap.
The Monarchs fall to 8-11 overall and 3-6 in Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play. Wilkes improves to 10-10 overall and 6-3 in conference play.
King's did not get off to a good start in the first games as the Colonels were able to take advantage of three errors to score two unearned runs. John Wickiser didn't let the errors affect his composure as he struck out two batters to get the Monarchs out of the inning without any more damage.
King's put two runners on base with two outs in both the first and second innings but the Colonels were able to get the third out before King's could knock in a run. Wickiser did his part to keep the Monarchs in the game retiring the Colonels in order in the second and third innings. Nick Capozzi broke up the string of outs with a leadoff single in the top of the fourth. However, Wickiser responded by setting down the next seven batters he faced.
The Monarchs tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth with two runs on two hits. Matt Mellinger led off with a walk and then advanced to second on a Brad Wilkins single to right. Kyle Friebolin moved the runners over with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. Sean McKee knocked in the first run with a single to right. Dan Hartson then came to the plate and hit a shallow fly to left field. The Colonel shortstop was set to make the play before an advancing left fielder called him off an made a diving grab. Wilkins took advantage of the diving catch and tagged up from third base with the tying run.
The Colonels were able to work a one-out walk against Wickiser in sixth and seventh innings but both time Wickiser got out of the inning with a 4-6-3 double play. The Monarchs also put a runner on base in both the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to score as the games headed into extra innings.
Wilkes put runners on the corners in the eighth which prompted the Monarchs to bring in Chris Lupole in relief of Wickiser on the mound. Joe Champi singled to left to give the Colonels a 3-2 before Lupole struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning. Mellinger doubled down the right-field line with one out in the bottom of the inning and Shawn Stone was hit-by-a-pitch as a pinch-hitter. A wild pitch put runners on second and third and then Noah Adams drew a pinch-hit walk. Sean McKee singled to left center to score Mellinger with the tying run but Jonathan Hoyt was thrown out at home trying to score the winning run from second. Hartson walked to load the bases before the Colonels got Christian Pack to fly out to center to get out of the inning.
Wilkes manufactured a run in the ninth on two hits to take a 4-3 lead. Once again the Monarchs responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Rebar led off the inning with a double off the fence in left center. He then scored two batters later on a throwing error by the Colonel third baseman.
The Monarchs looked like they were going to end the game in the 10th when McKee doubled down the leftfield line and then advanced to third on a wild pitch with one out. Unfortunately, he was thrown out at home when he tried to score on a grounder to second off the bat of Hartson. Wilkes was able to get out of the inning with no further damage.
The Colonels broke through against the Monarchs in the 12th when they were able to bat around and plate nine runs on five hits and three errors. The Monarchs tried to rally in the bottom of the inning as Pack hit a two-RBI single up the middle with two outs, but that was all they would be able to get as the Colonels took the first game by a 13-6 score.
McKee led the Monarchs with four hits in the game while Pack and Rebar had three hits each. Pack and McKee also knocked in two runs apiece. Mellinger had two hits and scored twice. Wickiser was fantastic on the hill lasting 7.1 innings to record a no-decision. He allowed five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Only one of the runs he gave up was earned. Chris Lupole picked up the loss after pitching 4.0 innings in relief. He struck out eight before running out of gas in the 12th.
In game two, the Colonels opened up the scoring in the first when Champi hit a sacrifice fly to right scoring Michael Patrizio. Wilkes loaded the bases before Hartson got out of the inning with a fly ball to center.
Brad Wilkins led off the bottom of the inning with a single to center and then Pack singled to the pitcher with a swing bunt down the third base line. After the runners moved over on a Rebar groundout to first, Kyle Lupas knocked in a run with a groundout to short. Stone walked to put runners on second and third but Wilkes got out of the inning with no more damage.
Champi knocked in his second run of the game with two outs when he singled through the left side after a pair of walks. The Colonels were able to add on another run in the fourth on a double and two singles with two outs. Hartson struck out the next batter to get out of the inning. Hartson set the Colonels down in order in the fifth and sixth to keep the Colonels off the scoreboard and allowing the Monarchs a chance for their offense to score some runs. However, the Monarchs offense was unable to solve the Colonel pitching as Wilkes picked up the series sweep.
Pack led the Monarchs in game two with two hits while Wilkins had a hit and scored a run. Dan Hartson picked up his first loss of the year on the hill allowing three runs on eight hits and four walks with one strikeout in 6.1 innings. Brandon Moffitt recorded the final two outs on the mound.
King's will be back in action tomorrow when they conclude their series with Misericordia with a doubleheader at Tambur Field in Dallas. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on the campus of Misericordia.