Game 1 Box Score   Game 2 Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Lebanon Valley won the opener 5-4, but Ursinus captured the nightcap 1-0 in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday afternoon at the LVC Softball Park.

Sophomore pitcher Jenn Roberts went the distance for Lebanon Valley (12-4) in Game One to stay perfect at 7-0 on the season. In Game Two, classmate Kelly O’Toole also threw a complete game but suffered her first loss of the season to fall to 3-1.

Freshman Katie Norton (3-1) hurled a six-hit shutout for Ursinus (16-6) in the nightcap.

Lebanon Valley Head Coach Stacey Hollinger recorded her 99th career win at LVC with the Flying Dutchmen’s win in the opener.

Roberts and LVC never trailed in Game One. The Dutchmen jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first when junior rightfielder Lisa DiCristofaro led off with a double and scored when sophomore leftfielder Amy Batz ripped a two-bagger of her own.

Lebanon Valley went ahead 3-1 in the third when Roberts helped herself with a two-run single. Then with the game tied 3-3, the Valley went ahead to stay with a four-hit, two-run fourth. Senior second baseman Gina Battistelli roped a one-out double down the leftfield line, and DiCristofaro followed up with her second double of the game to make it 4-3. Two batters later, Batz drove in what proved to be the game-winning run when she smacked a single to left.

Ursinus cut it to 5-4 with two hits and a walk in the sixth, but Roberts left runners on first and second by forcing an inning-ending groundout. She went on to retire the Bears in order in the seventh.

Roberts scattered six hits and finished with four strikeouts and one walk. She equaled her victory total from last season when she finished 7-10 and was the Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year.

Ursinus starter Mallory Greene suffered just her second loss of the season, falling to 6-2. She gave up nine hits, struck out two and walked none.

DiCristofaro, Batz, and sophomore designated player Steph Marguglio collected a pair of hits apiece for LVC in the opener.

Sophomore rightfielder Mary Reid was 3-for-3 with three doubles to lead the Bears in the Game One.

In the nightcap, Ursinus scored the only run it would need in the third inning. Junior leftfielder and No. 9 hitter Ellie Knise reached on a one-out infield single, and freshman second baseman Jessica Cherry walked. After a popout, junior shortstop Marci Logan singled sharply to center, and senior Melissa Ulrich made a strong throw home. Knise initially held up at third, but then took home when the ball squirted by the LVC catcher. O’Toole prevented further damage by inducing a groundout to end the inning.

Lebanon Valley had several chances to score against Norton, but left eight runners on base. LVC had the tying run on second in the seventh when DiCristofaro smashed a two-out double into the left-center gap. Roberts came on as a pinch-hitter, but popped up to end the game.

Norton struck out five and walked one. O’Toole yielded seven hits and two walks while striking out two.

Freshman second baseman Lauren Sanford was 2-for-3 for the Valley in Game Two while Logan went 3-for-3 for the Bears.

Lebanon Valley opens Commonwealth Conference play on Saturday, when it visits Susquehanna for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.

[Photo - Junior Lisa DiCristofaro, who 3-for-7 with three doubles against Ursinus on Thursday]

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