MAY 12, 2017

KING'S BASEBALL FALLS TO MISERICORDIA IN FREEDOM CONFERENCE OPENER, 6-0

WEST LAWN -- The King's College baseball team registered just three base hits as the third-seeded Monarchs dropped a 6-0 decision to second-seeded Misericordia University in the opening round of the Freedom Conference Tournament Friday night at Owls Field in West Lawn.

With the win Misericordia improved to 29-12 while King's slipped to 20-17.

Misericordia took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Tyler Holzapfel singled and eventually scored from third on a double steal.

King's missed on a scoring chance in the third inning when Tom Gibbons hit a one-out double to left. But the Monarchs could not come up with a base hit as the score remained the same. 

Misericordia added a run on the fourth when Holzapfel reached on a base hit and later scored from third on  in a bloop single by Parker Abate.

In the top of the fifth, Gibbons singled with two out but the Monarchs were unable to take advantage as the Cougars maintained a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Misericordia would gain a level of separation in the scoring column. Leading off the inning, Billy Kerwien was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a bloop single by Jeremy DeCotiis. Holzaphel then delivered a run-scoring single to make it a 3-0 game. Steve Weisensee followed with a RBI single up the middle to give the Cougars s 4-0 lead after five full innings of play.

In the bottom of the sixth Abate led off the frame by being hit by a pitch. After advancing to third on a bunt and a wild pitch, Abate scored on a RBI bunt by Kerwein to push the score to 5-0.

In the bottom of the seventh DeCotiis drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, and scored on a two-out single by Weisensee to put Misericordia ahead 6-0.

Gibbons had two hits, including a double to lead King's offensively while Lupas added the Monarchs' third hit. Freshman Billy Neill took the pitching loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hit in four and two-thirds innings of work.

King's is scheduled to play Manhattanville, which fell to DeSales 8-4 in the other first-round pairing, Saturday at 11:00 AM. Expected rain may greatly alter the tournament schedule. Should Saturday's three-game slate be washed out, the tournament will be changed to a single-elimination event on Sunday with first-round winners Misericordia and DeSales playing a single game for the Freedom Conference title.