Game1 Box Score   Game 2 Box Score

LANCASTER, Pa. – Junior right-hander Jess Cooney (Rockledge, Pa./Abington) fired her first career shutout and the Lebanon Valley College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Franklin Marshall College.

Lebanon Valley (2-3), playing for the first time since March 9, won 1-0 behind Cooney’s four-hitter in the opener before falling 3-0 in the nightcap.

Senior third baseman Amanda Stevenson (Smyrna, Del./Smyrna) and junior second baseman Kristin Crouse (Columbia, Pa./Columbia) led the Valley with three hits apiece for the twinbill.

Sophomore outfielder Melissa Ulrich (Reinholds, Pa./Cocalico) drove in the winning run in game one. After sophomore outfielder Gina Battistelli (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) tripled with one out in the top of the fourth, Ulrich followed up with a single to give the Valley the only run it would need in the game.

Cooney walked just two and struck out one. She retired nine straight batters at one point before running into trouble in the fifth. The Diplomats loaded the bases with one out after a single, a hit batter and a walk. But Cooney retired the next two batters to keep her shutout bid alive.

Cooney settled back in to retire five of the last six batters she faced as the Flying Dutchmen posted their second straight shutout.

Crouse smacked a pair of hits in the win.

In the nightcap, Alison Barrett (4-0) threw a five-hit shutout while teammate Leah Shams-Molkar went 3-for-3 to lead the Diplomats to victory. Franklin & Marshall scored all three of its runs in a three-hit fourth inning. Sophomore right-hander Michelle Norman (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) (0-1) started and took the loss despite allowing no earned runs. She gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out two over four innings. Ulrich shut out the Dips in two innings of work.

Stevenson led LVC at the plate with a pair of hits.

Lebanon Valley returns to action on Thursday when the team visits Dickinson College for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. The Dutchmen are scheduled to play their 2003 home opener on Saturday at 1 p.m. with a doubleheader against Juniata College.

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