Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score
KINGSTON, Pa. – Freshmen Jenn Roberts (East Petersburg, Pa./Hempfield) and Kelly O'Toole (Monroe, N.Y./Monroe-Woodbury) each tossed a shutout and Lebanon Valley exploded for 23 hits in a sweep over Wilkes University in MAC non-conference softball action Thursday afternoon a Kirby Park.
Lebanon Valley (12-15) won 4-0 in the opener behind a three-hitter by Roberts, then O'Toole twirled a four-hitter in a 10-0 LVC romp in the nightcap, which was called after five innings due to the eight-run rule.
Wilkes fell to 15-16 with the pair of losses.
Freshman Audrey Benner (Leola, Pa./Conestoga Valley) had an outstanding pair of games at the plate for LVC, going 6-for-8 with four runs. Classmate Jenn Parks (Monroeville, N.J./Woodstown) was nearly as impressive, picking up four hits in seven at-bats, while Roberts went 3-for-6.
In the opener, Lebanon Valley scored all four of its runs with two outs in the second inning. With two down, sophomore Mandi Nace (Liverpool, Pa./Greenwood), junior Gina Battistelli (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) and junior Ilyse Resnick (Holland, Pa./Council Rock) ripped three straight singles to load the bases. Benner then drove in a pair with LVC's fourth straight one-bagger, and two more runners crossed the plate when senior Kristin Crouse (Columbia, Pa./Columbia) reached on an error by the centerfielder.
That would be more than enough offense for Roberts (5-7), who prevented a Wilkes player to reach third base the entire game. She walked only two and struck out seven while picking up her eighth complete game and third shutout of the season.
Benner finished Game One 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Parks and Resnick also had a pair of hits.
In the nightcap, the Valley exploded for nine runs over the first three innings. The Flying Dutchmen scored three times on five hits in the first, highlighted by a two-run homer off the bat of freshman Amy Batz (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest). Batz rounded the bases for her first collegiate home run.
Lebanon Valley used the long ball to its advantage once again in the second, as Crouse blasted another two-run shot, her first of the season, to put the Dutchmen on top 5-0.
LVC broke it open in the third with four runs on four hits and two errors. With two outs, Benner and Crouse both reached on an error, before Batz and Parks plated back-to-back RBI-singles. Roberts cleared the bases with a two-run single.
Crouse capped the Valley's scoring with an RBI-single in the fourth.
O'Toole (5-1) finished with two walks and one strikeout en route to her fourth complete game and second shutout of the season.
Benner turned in a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate to go with three runs scored for LVC, which ripped a season-high 15 hits in Gmae Two. Roberts was flawless as well, going 3-for-3 with a pair of RBIs. Crouse, Batz and Parks all logged two hits and two runs apiece while Crouse and Batz both drove in three runs.
Lebanon Valley returns to action on Saturday, when they host Albright College in a big Commonwealth Conference doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. With a sweep, the Dutchmen can clinch a berth in the upcoming Commonwealth playoffs, which will be held at the LVC Softball Park for the fourth consecutive season.
[Photo - Freshman Audrey Benner, who went 6-for-8 with four runs in LVC's sweep over Wilkes on Thursday]
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