APRIL 13, 2017
PACK HITS WALKOFF SINGLE IN FIRST GAME TO GIVE MONARCHS WIN OVER COUGARS
WILKES-BARRE, PA --- Christian Pack drove a single through the right side with two outs in the seventh inning to score John Wickiser from second with the winning run in a 3-2 come-from behind victory in the first game of a doubleheader split with Misericordia University on Thursday afternoon at Lipo Field in Wilkes-Barre. The Cougars won the second game 7-2.
King's is now 12-12 overall and has a 6-6 mark in conference games. Misericordia, who is ranked 27th in the latest ABCA / Collegiate Baseball poll, is now 17-7 overall and 8-2 in conference play.
The first game was a pitcher's duel between both team's ace pitchers. Nick Deno threw 10 pitches to retire the side in the first inning. The Cougars ace, Garrett Pelko, ran into a little trouble in the bottom half when Pack reach second base on a throwing error and then Chris Rebar walked to put runners on first and second with one out. However, he recorded a strikeout and a fly out to right to get out of the inning.
Misericordia manufactured a run in the second on two walks and a single to left field to take a 1-0 lead. After being put down in order on seven pitches in the third by Deno, the Cougars were able to score another run in the fourth when Billy Kerwien knocked in Jeremy Decotiis from second base with a double down the leftfield line.
The Monarchs were able to get on the board in the sixth inning against Pelko. Sean McKee led off the inning with a walk and moved to second when Pack hit a single to the gap in right center. Rebar moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher before Kyle Lupas knocked in McKee on a ground out to third.
In the seventh inning the Cougars brought in Tim Burek in relief of Pelko who had thrown 91 pitches. Sean Padden led the inning off with a single down the leftfield line and then Tom Gibbons reached when the first baseman was unable to handle a throw from the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt. The Monarchs made the miscue hurt when Shawn Stone came up two batters later and hit a pinch hit single through the left side to score Gibbons with the game tying run. After a strikeout Pack came to the plate with two outs and runners on first and second. Pack hit the second pitch he saw through the hole in the right side and Wickiser beat the throw home from right field to give the Monarchs their first victory over Misericordia since sweeping the Cougars in the 2010 season.
In the second game Misericordia hit three doubles in the first to take an early 2-0 lead. They then added another run in the second when Kenny Jarema hit a double into short left field where Pack and Wilkins ran into each other trying to make a play on the blooper. Besides the ball dropping in allowing a run to score Pack also came out of the game, which unfortunately ended his 11-game hit streak.
The Cougars manufactured runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 5-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth Rebar was able to beat out a slow roller in between the first and second baseman for a single. Lupas then singled to center. Dan Hartson advanced Rebar to third with a long fly out to center before Shawn Stone knocked him in with a single to right. The Monarchs scored another run in the sixth when Gibbons walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then scored when McKee reached on a throwing error by the shortstop that went into the Misericordia dugout.
Misericordia scored their final two runs in the sixth on a triple by Tyler Holzapfel to right center with runners on first and second.
Shawn Stone led the Monarchs with two hits and two RBI on the day. Christian Pack also recorded two hits and knocked in a run. Tom Gibbons scored two runs and stole a base. Nick Deno got the complete game victory in the first game allowing two runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts. After scoring the game-winning run in the first game John Wickiser picked up the loss on the mound in the second game pitching four innings and allowing five runs on eight hits. Chris Lupole pitched three innings in relief allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three.
Misericordia was led by Tyler Holzapfel with three hits including a double and a triple, three RBI, and two runs scored. Connor Smith and Kenny Jarema also had three hits on the day. Garrett Pelko picked up a no-decision in game one pitching the first six innings allowing just one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Tim Burek picked up the loss pitching 0.2 innings allowing two runs on three hits and a strikeout. In the second game Zach Mason went six innings to pick up the win allowing two runs on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Steven Pabon pitched a perfect seventh inning with a strikeout.
The Monarchs will break for the Easter weekend before returning to the diamond on Monday when they host Clarks Summit University at Lipo Field at 4:00 p.m.