EDWARDSVILLE – The Wilkes University softball team dropped its Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) and final home doubleheader of the season to cross-town rival King's College on a wet Wednesday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex. King's took game one 9-5 and game two 8-0 in five innings in what was the final meeting between the two rivals as conference members.

Wilkes fell to 18-16 overall and to 3-11 in the MAC Freedom with the losses. King's improved to 20-12 overall and 10-4 in the conference.

Game one began with the Monarchs taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Bailey Loyack hit a solo home run to left field.

The Colonels answered back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Hana Cross (South Brunswick, NJ/South Brunswick) worked a one-out walk then went to second on a single by Nicole Howell (Tunkhannock, PA/Tunkhannock Area). Kayla Burleson (West Chester, PA/B. Reed Henderson) was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Marissa Pick (Watsontown, PA/Warrior Run) followed with a two-run single to left field that brought in Cross and Howell. With two out Olivia Dougher (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) walked and then Taylor Douple (Fredericksburg, PA/Northern Lebanon) singled through the left side to bring in Burleson. Nicole O'Rourke (Staten Island, NY/Susan E Wagner) followed with a single to left field that brought in Pick and Dougher to make it 5-1.

King's gained one run back in the top of the second with a double, single, and sacrifice fly. The Monarchs then took the lead in the top of the third with four runs on four hits and two errors as the score stood 6-5. King's added two more runs in the fifth on two hits and an error and a final run in the sixth for the 9-5 final score as Wilkes was unable to cross the plate after the strong first inning.

Lauren DeMarco (Merrick, NY/Sanford H. Calhoun) (7-5) started in the circle for Wilkes and took the loss as she allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts in three innings. Bella Peters (Lancaster, PA/Penn Manor) pitched the next four innings allowing three runs (zero earned) on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts.

Brandi McIntosh (8-4) earned the win for King's as she pitched all seven innings allowing five runs on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.

Howell was 2-for-4 in game one while Pick was 1-for-4 with two RBI's and O'Rourke was 1-for-2 with two RBI's.

In game two, King's took a 4-0 lead in the top of the third inning with four unearned runs crossing the plate. The Monarchs used three hits and two errors to build its lead.

King's added four more runs on five hits in the top of the fourth to go ahead 8-0. From there Wilkes was unable to score in the bottom of the fourth or fifth as King's won 8-0 by the eight-run rule after five innings.

Sami Hendershott (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) (4-2) started game two in the circle for Wilkes and took the loss. She pitched 3.2 innings allowing eight runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk. Hope Mullins (Midland, VA/Liberty) pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Colonels without allowing a hit or run and striking out two. The two strikeouts brought her to the 100 career strikeout milestone.

Emily Novicki (8-5) earned the win for King's as she pitched all five innings allowing two hits and three walks with three strikeouts in the shutout.

Howell and AJ Bryfogle (Easton, PA/Easton Area) had the only hits for Wilkes in game two.

Wilkes closes out the 2023 season with its final MAC Freedom games before moving to the Landmark Conference next season. The Colonels will play a doubleheader at Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday starting at 1:00 p.m. in Hoboken, N.J.