Widener 4, Lebanon Valley 3
LVC Lineup
1. Deardorff lf, 2. Bost cf, 3. Johnson c, 4. Miller ss, 5. Valle dp, 6. Dutton 1b, 7. Gross rf, 8. Robinson 3b, 9. Aumiller 2b, Neff p
Widener Lineup
1. Horvath p, 2. Forward rf, 3. Alkins ss, 4. Harris 1b, 5. Sterling cf, 6. Church c, 7. Hood 3b, 8. Antonucci lf, 9. DelRomano 2b
How It Happened
Widener overcame a two-run deficit, using a seventh-inning rally to defeat Lebanon Valley 4-3 in walk-off fashion on Saturday and advance to the Commonwealth Conference Softball Tournament's championship round on Sunday afternoon.
The fourth-seeded Flying Dutchmen (14-22) took a 3-1 advantage into the bottom of the final stanza but the Pride, the tourney's second seed, used four singles, an LVC error, and a sacrifice fly to score three runs, two of the unearned variety, including the game-winner when Taylor Church singled through the left side and scored Heather Forward with two down.
Widener's rally spoiled the Dutchmen's otherwise solid outing, including another strong effort by starting pitcher Haley Neff.
Lebanon Valley scored all three of its runs in the top of the third. Jordyn Miller's double to left field drove in Sammy Bost and Emily Johnson after the duo singled in back-to-back at-bats and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, and Jasmine Dutton launched a double over the left fielder's head to score Miller.
Inside the Circle
- Haley Neff (9-11) pitched well enough to earn the win and was solid in defeat, allowing just two earned runs on 12 hits, 1/3 of which came in the final inning. She struck out three batters and walked none. The loss ended her recent eight-game win streak.
- A hard-hit Sammy Bost single ended Widener starter Ally Horvath's day inside the circle early, as the line shot hit her hard enough in the leg to knock her off her feet. She went 2.1 innings and surrendered three runs on seven hits and a wild pitch.
- Lex Schengrund (14-2) got the win for the Pride. She threw the final 4.2 innings and allowed just one hit and two walks in addition to striking out two.
At the Plate
- Jasmine Dutton had a nice outing at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Jordyn Miller went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and a game-high two RBI. Sammy Bost finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.
- Taylor Church was 3-for-4 for Widener with a double and the game-winning RBI. Ally Horvath also went 3-for-4 for the Pride.
- Each team recorded a pair of extra-base hits.
Around the Diamond
- LVC used the hit-by-pitch to put three runners on base as Alissa Robinson (2) and Kelli Valle (1) earned free bags on HBPs.
- Widener's Ang Hood had the game's only stolen base. Emily Johnson threw out Ally Horvath attempting to swipe second.
- Lebanon Valley outfielders Sammy Bost and Tessa Deardorff recorded three putouts apiece.
Lebanon Valley 5, Messiah 4
Lebanon Valley 5, Messiah 4
LVC Lineup
1. Deardorff lf, 2. Brown dp, 3. Bost cf, 4. Johnson c, 5. Miller ss, 6. Dutton 1b, 7. Gross rf, 8. Robinson 3b, 9. Aumiller 2b, Neff p
Messiah Lineup
1. Fix cf, 2. Pompeo 3b, 3. Allen p, 4. Notte c, 5. Bingaman lf, 6. Tankred 1b, 7. Jones ss, 8. Blantz rf, 9. Quatrale 2b
How It Happened
Lebanon Valley is heading to the Commonwealth Conference Softball Tournament championship round for the third-straight season thanks to a thrilling 5-4 walk-off victory over Messiah, the tournament's top team, on Saturday afternoon.
After falling to Widener 4-3 in heartbreaking fashion in their first contest of the day, the no. 4-seeded Flying Dutchmen (15-22) rebounded to knock off the top-seeded Falcons (31-9) for the second time in as many days.
With the bases loaded and one down in the bottom of the seventh, Messiah got the ground ball it needed to get the force out at home. When catcher Becky Notte attempted to complete a 4-2-3 double play, however, Sammy Bost rounded third and broke for home. The throw was a half-second too late as Bost dove head first to get her hand in under the tag, giving the Dutchmen a thrilling, one-run victory and ensuring they will play on the tourney's final day.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first, Emily Johnson got Lebanon Valley on the board when her bloop single to shallow left field allowed Cheyanne Brown to score from second base in the bottom of the frame.
The Falcons pushed their advantage to 4-1 thanks to runs in the top of the second and third, respectively, but LVC stopped the bleeding and drew even thanks to a much-need three-run bottom of the third. Tessa Deardorff, Brown, and Bost singled in consecutive at-bats and Bost's base knock pushed Deardorff across. Jordyn Miller's sac fly to left field was deep enough to score brown and Bost plated when Messiah's Brooke Pompeo mishandled Jasmine Dutton's two-out offering.
Haley Christensen turned in one of the best efforts of her young career for LVC. The hurler took over in the fourth inning and stranded a runner at third, retired the Falcons in order in the fifth and sixth innings, and worked out of trouble after surrendering a lead-off double in the seventh.
Inside the Circle
- Haley Christensen (6-8) earned her first postseason victory thanks to her four-inning, two strikeout performance. The underclassman showed tremendous poise, allowing just two hits against a Messiah lineup consisting of six Commonwealth All-Conference Team selections and the league's Rookie of the Year.
- The Dutchmen handed Messiah starter Courtney Allen (7-1) her first loss of the season. She threw 6.1 innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits and five walks. CC Pitcher of the Year Claressa Mees entered with the bases loaded in the seventh and got Jordyn Miller to ground to second before Sammy Bost scored the winning run.
At the Plate
- The top of the LVC lineup accounted for all six of the team's hits. Lead-off hitter Tessa Deardorff was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Cheyanne Brown went 1-for-2 with two runs scored in the two hole, number three hitter Sammy Bost finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored the winning run, and clean-up hitter Emily Johnson was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Courtney Allen was 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, and two runs scored for Messiah. Becky Notte drove in a game-high two runs.
- Messiah had three extra base hits; two doubles and a triple. The Dutchmen had none.
Around the Diamond
- Defensive mistakes cost Messiah big time. The Falcons committed five errors, one of which led to a crucial unearned run in the bottom of the third.
- Tessa Deardorff's key steal of second base in the seventh moved the game-winning run into scoring position. Cheyanne Brown and Sammy Bost followed her with a stolen base each in the final stanza.
- The Falcons put the bat on the ball but the Dutchmen outfielders answered the call as Deardorff, Bost, and Elaine Gross combined for eight putouts. Second baseman Jorey Aumiller and third baseman Alissa Robinson assisted on three and two outs, respectively.
Stats of the Day
3 – The Dutchmen advance to the Commonwealth Conference's championship round for the third-straight season, winning each of the last two league titles.
100– Sammy Bost recorded her 100th career hit against Widener. She is the 14th (and fastest) player in program-history to reach the mark.
Next Up
LVC will get a crack at third-consecutive Commonwealth Conference title when the Dutchmen host Widener in the championship round tomorrow at 1 p.m. Lebanon Valley needs two wins over the Pride tomorrow to clinch the league crown.
