MARCH 12, 2016
MONARCH BASEBALL COMES UP SHORT IN FLORIDA FINALE
WINTER HAVEN, FL --- The King's College baseball team found themselves on the wrong end of two close games on the final day of their spring break trip to Central Florida on Saturday. Nebraska Wesleyan University scored two runs in the top of the seventh to win the first game 5-3 and then took the nightcap 10-8 at the Chain of Lakes Park Stadium in Winter Haven.
Nebraska Wesleyan University, a dual member of the NAIA and the NCAA Division III improved to 5-8 on the season and 5-2 against Division III opponents. The Monarchs conclude the Florida trip with a 7-3 record.
King's has been able to get off to good starts all year in the first inning and Saturday's first game was no different. The Monarchs got on the board in the first inning when Tom Gibbons doubled to right centerfield, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then was knocked home by a Sean Padden single to center. This season King's has outscored their opponents 17-4 in the first inning. Gibbons gave the Monarchs a two run lead in the second when he hit a single to left field with runners on second and third. Zack Godfrey was able to score on the play but Brad Wilkins was thrown out at home trying to give King's a 3-0 lead.
The Prairie Wolves got on the board in the fifth when they collected three runs on four singles to take a 3-2 lead. King's responded to tie the game with a run in the bottom of the inning when Chris Rebar doubled to the gap in left centerfield to score Chris Lupole. Neither team was able to score in the sixth.
In the seventh inning Nebraska Wesleyan hit back-to-back triples to take a 4-3 lead. They were able to add another insurance run to take a 5-3 lead. The Monarchs were unable to score in the bottom of the inning going down in order on three hard hit balls that happened to go right to Prairie Wolves defenders.
Nick Deno started on the mound for the Monarchs and recorded a no-decision pitching six innings while allowing three runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out six to increase his season total to 20 in 17 innings of work. Nick Trivigino got the loss on the mound allowing two runs in 0.1 innings while facing four batters. Dan Hartson got the final two outs for King's.
Jordyn Johnson pitched a complete game for Nebraska Wesleyan allowing just four hits, striking out two, and walking four.
In the nightcap King's took an early 5-0 lead with five runs in the second inning. Kyle Lupas singled to center to start the inning and then advanced to second when Christian Pack reached base on an error by the third baseman. After Wilkins singled to load the bases Trivigino drew a walk to score Lupas. Shawn Stone then singled up the middle to score Pack. Gibbons knocked in Wilkins for the third run of the inning when he reached base by beating out a possible 6-4-3 double play. Rebar doubled down the right field line to score Trivigino and then Bruce Breithaput hit a sacrifice fly to right center to score Gibbons for the fifth and final run of the inning.
Nebraska Wesleyan scored two runs in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit to 5-2. King's made it 6-2 in the fourth when Breithaupt knocked in Stone. In the bottom of the inning the Monarchs pitching struggled as the Prairie Wolves sent 12 batters to the plate and scored eight runs on nine hits to take a 10-6 lead. The first eight hitters of the inning were able to record hits before the Monarchs recorded an out.
King's got one run back in the fifth inning when Stone knocked in Pack on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded. The Monarchs were able to advance runners to second and third but were unable to score. In the sixth Pack doubled down the right field line to score Padden with two outs. However that was all the Monarchs were able to score as they left runners on second and third for the second straight inning. Just like game one the Monarchs went down in order in the seventh inning on three very well hit balls that just happened to be hit right at Nebraska Wesleyan defenders.
John Wickiser allowed five runs on six hits in three innings on the mound for King's. Chris Lupole got the loss in relief allowing five runs on seven hits in two innings of work. Jared Smigelski struck out one and allowed two hits in one inning.
Chris Rebar led King's with three hits in five at-bats with two walks and two RBIs. Shawn Stone had two hits in four at-bats while knocking in two and scoring one and Tom Gibbons had three hits in nine at-bats with two RBIs and two runs scored. Kyle Lupas and Sean Padden each had two hits while Bruce Breithaupt knocked in two runs.
The Monarchs will return home to Pennsylvania and be back in action on Tuesday when they host Summit University at Lipo Field at 4:00 p.m. in the team's home opener.