MARCH 10, 2017
MONARCHS RALLY FOR VICTORY IN FIRST GAME OF DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT WITH JUNIATA
AUBURNDALE, FL --- The King's College baseball team rallied for four runs in the fifth inning capped by a three-run bomb from Chris Rebar to defeat Juniata 4-2 in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday morning at Lake Myrtle Sports Park in Auburndale, FL. The Eagles were able to salvage a split winning the second game 6-2.
King's stays at .500 on the season with a 4-4 record while Juniata is now 4-10 on the season.
In the first game Nick Deno continued his outstanding start to the year on the mound with three strikeouts in the first inning. In the bottom half of the inning Tom Gibbons legged out a lead-off double to the gap in left center field but the Monarchs were unable to knock in him.
The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the third when they were able to manufacture a run. After a lead-off walk, the Juniata runner advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, got to third on a single to center, and then scored on a sacrifice bunt to Deno. Juniata increased their lead to 2-0 with another run in the fourth on a walk, a double to left, and then a sacrifice fly to center field. Deno got out of the inning with no more damage with his seventh strikeout of the morning.
The Monarchs finally broke through in the fifth inning scoring four unearned runs. Brad Wilkins led off the innings with a strikeout but was able to advance to first due to a wild pitch on strike three. Sean McKee put runners on first and second when he hit an infield single to short. Zach Godfrey reached base on a fielder's choice on a bunt to the pitcher as Wilkins was thrown out at third. McKee then advanced to third when the Eagles catcher tried to pick Godfrey off on first but was unsuccessful. King's scored on the next play when Gibbons hit a grounder to short and his throw to second was offline allowing Gibbons and Godfrey to move up to second and third. Chris Rebar gave the Monarchs the lead with his first home run of the season and ninth of his career. His three-run bomb over the right field fence gave King's a 4-2 lead.
From there Deno had all the run support he needed on the mound as he retired the next six Juniata batters in order to give King's the victory.
Gibbons, Rebar, Christian Pack, and McKee had a hit each in game one for the Monarchs while Gibbons knocked in a run and Rebar knocked in three. Nick Deno improved to 2-0 with a no-decision on the mound pitching a complete game two hitter. He allowed two runs and walked three while matching his career-high with 11 strike outs.
Devyn Carper and Isaac Kline had a hit each for the Eagles while Chris Schreder and Andrew Hay knocked in a run each. Devin McLaughlin received the complete game loss allowing four unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts.
In the second game the Monarchs were able to put a runner on second base with under two outs in the first two innings but were unable to drive in a run. In the third Rebar hit a double to left field that one-hopped the wall. Bruce Breithaupt then hit a double to left field that the Juniata left fielder lost in the sun. Kyle Lupas drove in both Rebar and Breithaupt with a single through the left side to give the Monarchs a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning the Eagles responded with three runs on six hits to take a 3-2 lead. Juniata received a lead-off single to center and then back-to-back bunt singles to load the bases. After the Monarchs recorded an out the next two hitters knocked in a run each with singles. After a strikeout Juniata scored another run on a single to center. The Monarchs were able to get out of the inning with a grounder to third.
In the fourth inning the Eagles added two more runs with two outs to increase their lead to 5-2. After a lead-off single the next two batters were retired before the Eagles hit back-to-back singles enabling two runs to score. Juniata loaded the bases before Anthony Peacock was able to force a grounded up the middle to Pack for the final out of the inning.
The Monarchs put two batters on base in the fifth inning when Rebar reached on a fielding error by the first baseman and then Breithaupt singled through the right side. However the next two batters struck out to end the inning. King's put two more runners on base in the sixth when Pack led off with a walk and then McKee hit a one-out single to left. However once again they were stranded as the next two batters recorded outs to end the inning.
Juniata added an insurance run in the sixth on a walk, a steal of second, and then a single down the right field line. The Monarchs went down in order in their final at-bats giving the Eagles a split.
In game two Lupas led King's with two hits and knocked in two runs. McKee and Breithaupt had two hits each while Wilkins and Rebar each had one. The Monarchs struggled to knock runners in leaving eight runners on base in the game.
Matt Hassick received the loss on the mound giving up five runs on 10 hits in 3.2 innings of work. Anthony Peacock pitched the final 2.1 innings allowing one run on one hit and walked four. He was able to strikeout the side in the fifth.
Kevin Starner led the Eagles with two hits, two runs scored, and he knocked in two. Adam Kipp also had two hits and knocked in two runs while Schreder had two hits and scored twice. Drew Harshbarger got his first victory of the year allowing two runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts in four innings of work. Kipp picked up a three inning save allowing just two hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
Sean McKee led the Monarchs on the day with three hits in five at-bats scoring one run. Chris Rebar had two hits including a three-RBI home run and a double. Bruce Breithaupt and Kyle Lupas each had two hits on the day while Lupas knocked in two.
The Monarchs will wrap up their trip to Florida with a doubleheader on Saturday morning with Gordon College at McKeel Academy in Lakeland. First pitch is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.