Wilkes-Barre, PA - On Wednesday afternoon, the John Jay baseball team traveled to Wilkes-Barre, PA, to square off against King's College (PA).
 
The visitors got on the board first but the Monarchs responded with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the sixth. John Jay mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh, but the Monarchs' added run in the bottom of the eighth sealed the victory as the Bloodhounds fell 8-4.
 
The Bloodhounds fall to 8-9 overall, while the Monarchs move to 8-16. This was the first meeting between the two schools since March 12, 2005, when they met in Port Charlotte, FL, as King's (PA) picked up an 8-1 triumph.
 
Hayden Tackett led the way with three hits for the visitors. Santo Anzalone drove in two RBI while Ethan Simaan and Axel Kappes III added an RBI.
 
Danny Opramolla (0-2) gave up four runs on six hits while walking two in his first start of the season. Alvy Grullon came on in relief, giving up four runs on five hits while walking four and striking out five.
 
Jaiden Wanamaker, Kevin Kullman, and Owen Kosar each had two hits, with Troy Neff and Wanamaker driving in two RBIs. Zach Day, Kullman, Jacob Sutton, and Owen Ness also plated an RBI for the Monarchs.

The Monarchs used seven pitchers in the outing, with opener Aydan Davis throwing an inning, giving up a hit, and striking out a batter. Justin Hoadley was credited with the victory.

Both teams were held scoreless over the first two innings before John Jay got on the board first. Lucas Perez reached first on a fielding error by the left fielder and moved into scoring position. The next batter, Kappes III, singled him in for a 1-0 lead. Opramolla worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the third.

The Bloodhounds threatened for more in the top of the fourth as Tackett singled was out at second. A walk to Anthony Agosta moved Simaan to second as Perez popped up to short, ending the threat. 

In the bottom of the fourth, King's (PA) plated across four runs, taking a three-run advantage. Kosar reached on a one-out single before scoring on a Sutton RBI single to right that tied the game at 1-1.The next batter, Ness, singled through the right side, scoring the go-ahead run in Zach Jenkins, making it a 2-1 game. Opramola got Marmolejo to fly out to center before Neff cleared the bases on a triple to left field, making it 4-1 in favor of the home team.
 
Following a scoreless fifth inning, John Jay tried to rally as newly-minted CUNYAC Rookie of the Week, Sebastian Sanchez, reached on an error by the first baseman.

A walk to Tackett gave the visitors two runners on before Simaan moved Sanchez to third on the fielder's choice. Agosta drew a walk that loaded the bases before Ricky Hynick got Perez to ground into the inning-ending double play. 

In the bottom of the stanza, Grullon issued two straight walks before getting Mecca to ground one back to the mound on the sacrifice bunt attempt. A strike out to Neff had the Bloodhounds one out from keeping it a three-run contest, but Wanamaker singled down the left field line, scoring two runners, upping King's (PA) lead to 6-1. Day tripled to right field, scoring Wanamaker and extending the lead to 7-1 before Grullon stuck out Kullman, ending the frame.
 
The Bloodhounds staged a late comeback, scoring three in the inning to cut the deficit to three, 7-4. Kappes III reached first on an error by the pitcher. Jaxen Gangwish singled to center. Ryan Cherichella reached first on an error by the second baseman, with Gangwish out on the play.

Following a steal by Cherichella, Anzalone reached on the second error of the inning as Cherichella and Kappes III came into score. A single by Sanchez gave John Jay runners on first and second before a single by Tackett loaded the bases. 

Simaan flew out to center with a new pitcher in, scoring Anzalone, making it 7-4. Agosta drew another free pass before Mark Piri, pinch-hitting for Perez, struck out to end the inning.

In the top of the eighth, Kappes III doubled to right but was doubled up on the fly out to center off the bat of Cherichella, ending the inning.

King's (PA) added a run in their half of the eighth, as Kullman singled up the middle that plated home Wanamaker, who reached on a single down the left field line.

John Jay resumes CUNYAC play on Friday, April 4, as they travel to Old Westbury, NY to tangle with the Baruch Bearcats.
 
First-pitch is set for noon.