Stevenson 3, Lebanon Valley 2

LVC Lineup
1. Bost cf, 2. Brown lf, 3. Johnson c, 4. Miller ss, 5. Valle 2b, 6. Gross rf, 7. Christensen 1b, 8. Robinson 3b, 9. Ortiz-Marrero dp, Neff p

Stevenson Lineup
1. Gordon lf, 2. Kahl cf, 3. Finnen 3b, 4. Hoyt 1b, 5. Ogletree dp, 6. Steinbach p, 7. Stephey 2b, 8. Maggio c, 9. Welch rf, Mueller ss

How It Happened
Stevenson used a timely two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh inning to edge out a 3-2 victory over Lebanon Valley in game one of a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

With the game tied entering the seventh, the Mustangs (6-13, 3-2 MAC Commonwealth) used a lead-off walk and back-to-back sacrifice bunts to move Alli Culp to third base. With two down, Kate Finnen singled to right field to put the visitors in front for the first time since the top of the first frame.

Emily Stratton reached base after being hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the stanza and Liz Bauer moved her to second with a sac bunt but ultimately the Flying Dutchmen (11-6, 5-2 MAC Commonwealth) couldn't drive her across.

With the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth, LVC had a chance to take the lead when Kim Ortiz-Marrero singled to center field but Haley Christensen was thrown out trying to score from second base on a close play at the plate to end the inning following the Mustangs' equalizer in the top of the frame.

Center fielder Sammy Bost showed off her arm in the top of the fourth when she threw out Brooke Steinbach attempting to score from second, as her laser of a one-hopper to catcher Emily Johnson preserved LVC's 2-1 advantage.

Lebanon Valley took its first lead of the contest in the bottom of the second when Ortiz-Marrero's RBI groundout plated Christensen after she led off the inning with a double to right field. Bost and Alissa Robinson moved into scoring position with one away but were stranded, preventing the Dutchmen from posting crooked number to cushion the lead.

Stevenson opened the game with a run when Finnen's double off the left field fence plated Sabrina Gordon but LVC responded in the bottom half with a score when Kelli Valle's single to center field drove in Johnson from second base.

Inside the Circle
- Haley Neff took the loss for Lebanon Valley despite a solid outing that saw her surrender just three runs on nine hits. She added a pair of strikeouts and 13 ground ball outs.
- Brooke Steinbach earned her second victory of the spring for Stevenson, allowing two runs on seven hits and four walks in seven innings of work.

At the Plate
- Haley Christensen went 2-for-3 from the dish with a double and a run scored. Hers was LVC's lone extra-base hit.
- Kelli Valle and Kim Ortiz-Marrero each picked up an RBI for the Dutchmen, while Emily Johnson plated after working a walk.
- Alissa Robinson was patient at the plate, working a game-high two walks.
- Kate Finnen and Laura Welch had multi-hit games for Stevenson, with Finnen adding a double and a game-best two RBI.

Around the Diamond
- Haley Christensen stole the only base for LVC in the fifth inning, while Tiffany Kahl had the lone steal for Stevenson.
- LVC had scoring opportunities but left nine runners on base, including seven in scoring position.
- Alissa Robinson assisted on three putouts at third base for the Dutchmen.
- Stevenson picked up the win despite two fielding errors. Lebanon Valley was clean, defensively.

Stevenson 6, Lebanon Valley 4

LVC Lineup
1. Bost cf, 2. Brown lf, 3. Johnson c, 4. Miller dp, 5. Christensen 1b, 6. Valle 2b, 7. Robinson 3b, 8. Stratton ss, 9. Gross rf, Windsor p

Stevenson Lineup
1. Gordon lf, 2. Kahl cf, 3. Finnen 3b, 4. Hoyt 1b, 5. Ogletree p, 6. Steinbach dp, 7. Fields c, 8. Stephey 2b, 9. Welch rf, Mueller ss

How It Happened
Lebanon Valley's late-game comeback came up short in the team's 6-4 loss to Stevenson in game two of a conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Trailing 6-1 in the sixth inning, the Flying Dutchmen (11-7, 5-3 MAC Commonwealth) pushed three runs across and moved another runner into scoring position but failed to draw any closer in the final two stanzas. A Stevenson (7-13, 4-2 MAC Commonwealth) error on a Kim Ortiz-Marrero bunt allowed Kelli Valle and Haley Christensen to score to cut the deficit to three before Elaine Gross' single to center field scored Ortiz-Marrero two at-bats later.

The Mustangs opened the scoring when Tiffany Kahl scored on a wild pitch following her triple to right center field.

They added another run in the top of the third when a two-out LVC error allowed Kahl to score for the second time but the Dutchmen cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the stanza when Sammy Bost's single to right field plated Elaine Gross after she led off the inning with a triple to the right field fence. With no outs, Bost advanced to third base thanks to a stolen base and wild pitch but Lebanon Valley was unable to push her across.

Stevenson answered with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth before LVC got their first two runners on base in the bottom of the fifth. Unfortunately, a double play turned by Mustang third baseman Kate Finnen ended the Dutchmen threat.

Inside the Circle
- Alexa Windsor threw a complete seven inning game for LVC, allowing 11 hits but just three earned runs to go along with her five strikeouts.
- Jasmyn Ogletree earned her fourth win of the spring for the Mustangs, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing just one earned run on seven hits. She walked just one batter and struck out five.
- Molly Hoyt recorded her second save of the year for Stevenson, entering in the sixth inning and allowing just one hit and one walk to go along with one strikeout.

At the Plate
- Elaine Gross came to play in the nightcap and went 3-for-3 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored.
- Kelli Valle added a double for LVC. She was 2-for-3 at the dish with a run scored.
- Sammy Bost worked good counts and finished 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and an RBI single.
- Tiffany Kahl was perfect at the plate for Stevenson, going 4-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored.
- The Mustangs had three extra-base hits (two doubles, one triple) and Lebanon Valley had two (one double, one triple).

Around the Diamond
- Sammy Bost stole the 70th base of her career for Lebanon Valley.
- Tiffany Kahl and Alli Culp each had a stolen base for the Mustangs but Sabrina Gordon was picked off leaning off first by Emily Johnson in the third inning.
- The Dutchmen committed three errors in the nightcap. Stevenson committed one.
- The teams combined to leave 15 runners on base.
- Emily Stratton recorded a pair of putouts and assisted on two more at shortstop.

Autism Awareness Day
- Saturday was LVC softball's annual Autism Awareness Day. Money was raised for the cause through the selling of wrist bands and a charity home run derby for players, coaches, students, and fans that was held following the conclusion of game two.

Who's Next?
The Dutchmen host Kean in non-conference doubleheader action on Thursday afternoon.