APRIL 17, 2017

KING'S BASEBALL SWEEPS SEASON SERIES WITH 10-4 VICTORY OVER CLARKS SUMMIT

WILKES-BARRE, PA --- Dan Hartson finished a home run shy of hitting for the cycle and struck out 10 batters in six innings on the mound to lead the King's College baseball team to a 10-4 victory over visiting Clarks Summit University on Monday afternoon at Lipo Field in Wilkes-Barre.

The Monarchs improve to 13-12 and sweep the season series from the Defenders. King's had previously beaten the Defenders in a doubleheader to begin the year back in February. Clarks Summit falls to 4-18.

Hartson threw just eight pitches in the first inning and then struck out the side in the second on the mound. In the bottom of the first he drove a 3-1 pitch to the gap in left center for a one-out double and then advanced to third on a fly out to right. However the Monarchs were unable to knock him in. In the second Kyle Friebolin drew a two-out walk and then moved to second on a single to left center by Tom Gibbons. Brad Wilkins then knocked in the game's first run on a double down the leftfield line.

Hartson ran into trouble on the mound in the third when the Defenders were able to put runners on first and second. Hartson ended the inning with a strikeout before the Defenders could score a run. In the bottom of the inning he led off with a triple to left center and then was knocked in on a sacrifice fly to right by Chris Rebar.

In the fourth Clarks Summit hit back-to-back singles to begin the inning and then Nick Chupick hit a double to centerfield scoring both runners to tie the game. After an infield single and a stolen base the Defenders had runners on second and third with no outs. Hartson struck out the next three batters swinging to get out of inning.

King's responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Gibbons began a two-out rally with a double to left center, Wilkins then drove him in with a triple to right field. Sean McKee reached on a throwing error that scored Wilkins, and then Hartson singled to left field in is third at bat of the day. The Monarchs scored their final run of the inning when Rebar beat out a slow roller in between first and second. The throw to first got away and running hard the whole way McKee scored from second on the play.

The Monarchs added two more runs in the fifth when Shawn Stone led off the inning with a single to left and then Sean Padden just missed a home run with a double that hit off the top of the wall in left. Stone scored on a wild pitch and then Gibbons hit a sacrifice fly to left to plate Padden.

Matt Hassick relieved Hartson in the seventh and pitched a perfect two innings forcing four fly balls and striking out two. In the bottom of the seventh Lupas, Padden, and Friebolin all hit singles to score one run and put runners on the corners with one out. Gibbons knocked in Padden with his second sacrifice fly of the game. Padden knocked in Noah Adams with an RBI single in the eighth to give the Monarchs a 10-2 lead. Adams had replaced Hartson at the beginning of the inning and led off with a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch and moving up to third on a throwing error. The Defenders were able to manufacture two runs in the top of the ninth against Mike Armstrong to set the final score.

The Monarchs had 18 hits on the day with 10 different players recording at least one hit including all nine starters. Dan Hartson led the attack with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate that included a double, a triple, and a run scored. On the mound he struck out 10 in six innings of work while allowing two runs on five hits and a walk. Tom Gibbons was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored while Brad Wilkins went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Sean Padden went 3-for-5 with an RBI and scored two runs. Matt Hassick pitched two perfect innings in relief with two strikeouts and Mike Armstrong closed out the final inning on the mound allowing two runs on two hits and striking out one.

The Defenders were led by Nick Chupick with two hits in four at bats, two RBI and a run scored. Robert Mitchell also had two hits while scoring a run and knocking in one. Mitch Raup picked up the loss on the mound pitching seven innings while allowing nine runs, seven earned, on 16 hits with a walk and a strikeout.

King's will be back in action on Wednesday when they will face University of Scranton at PNC Field in Moosic. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the home of the Triple-A RailRiders.