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GoDutchmen.com Blog Post - Softball Graduation
ITHACA, N.Y. - #21 Lebanon Valley dropped a 4-1 contest to Alfred in the loser's bracket of the NCAA Regional Sunday afternoon. Alfred advances to play undefeated Ithaca with a ride to the College World Series on the line. Juniors Val Malizzia and Laura Snyder struck out four batters each in the loss.
Alfred struck early, scoring two runs in the first. Two hits opened the inning and a sacrifice bunt advanced both runners to second and third with one out. A sacrifice fly to right field scored one runner while a fielding error by the Dutchmen allowed another runner to cross home plate. Malizzia, LVC's starter, struck out the final batter to end the inning.
Lebanon Valley's first scoring opportunity came in the third with senior Allie Davies hitting a lead-off single up the middle. Junior Chelsea Artz came in to pinch run, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a wild pitch before a fly out stranded her on third.
The Dutchmen had runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings but couldn't break onto the scoreboard.
Alfred added to its lead in the fifth with a wild pitch scoring one run and a fielder's choice scoring another. Snyder replaced Malizzia with one out in the inning. Senior Caitlin Keller and junior Meghan Donoghue combined to catch a runner stealing for the second out of the inning, while Snyder posted a strikeout for the third out.
LVC reached the scoreboard in the sixth with junior Katie Freeman hitting a one-out double. Pinch runner Steph Hulme moved to third on a single up the middle by Steffani Secola and scored off an error on the play.
Malizzia pitched four and a quarter innings allowing three hits, while Snyder pitched the remainder and gave up one hit.
Nicole Hedrick pitched the complete game for Alfred, giving up seven hit and striking out four.
Following the conclusion of the regional, won by the host Ithaca, Snyder and Donoghue were both selected to the all-regional team. Snyder was absolutely lights-out with a 0.00 ERA and 30 strikeouts in four appearances and 17.2 innings of work, while Donoghue had four hits and two RBI in the tournament, including the game-winning home run in LVC's opener against Polytechnic.
LVC concludes the season with a 34-13 record, setting a new school record for most wins in a single season.
