ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley softball team will be the top seed on their own field next week at the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Champioship after clinching the top seed with a split against Messiah in the final conference doubleheader of the season. LVC won the opener 6-1 before dropping a heart-breaking 2-1 decision in nine innings.
 
Prior to the games LVC honored their seniors Julia Forsythe and Anna Marie Hockman as well as recognizing graduate students Samantha Weaver and Kylie Balthaser.
 
Game One
Messiah 27-11, 11-4 MAC Commonwealth scored an unearned run in the first inning off Jordan Walter on two hits, a walk, and a passed ball. Lebanon Valley (30-6, 14-0 MAC Commonwealth) had lead off doubles in the first and second innings but were unable to get the tying run across. They finally broke through in the third with a big inning where they scored all their runs.
 
Sam Burns led off the inning with an infield single to short. Lexi Smith doubled to the gap in left center and then Julia Criag drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Lindsey McCurdy had a one-out single and then two batters later Megan Heard knocked in two runs with a single to center. Hockman then blasted a two-run shot over the fence in left center to make it 6-0. Walter did the rest of the work as she shut down the Messiah offense retiring 14 batters in a row to end the game.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Walter struck out a career-high nine batters. She also had nine strikeouts against Messiah last year in 9.2 innings. The junior earned her 16th win of the year and faced just three over the minimum.
• Hockman hit her team-leading fourth home run of the year.
• Burns had a great game at the leadoff spot with three hits including a double.
• McCurdy and Balthaser had two hits each. Both have 99 career hits. 

Game Two
Messiah (28-11, 12-4 MAC Commonwealth) got on the scoreboard with a solo home run down the line in left with two outs in the first inning. LVC (30-7, 14-1 MAC Commonwealth) tied the game up in the fourth as McCurdy tripled down the rightfield line and then scored on a misplayed grounder to second by Nicole Kratz. Neither team was able to plate a run over the next few innings of an exciting pitcher's duel. The Falcons started the ninth with a pair of singles and loaded the bases on a one-out walk. The Falcons drove in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly down the left field line. The Dutchmen put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the inning but were unable to score the tying run.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Burns continued her hot streak with a pair of singles.
• Kratz also had two hits including a double.
• McCurdy had a triple while Lexi Smith hit an infield single in the ninth.
• Erin Sinatra struck out three in nine innings of action in the circle.

Up Next
LVC is scheduled to host MAC Freedom regular season champion Misericordia University on Monday afternoon in a preview of what could be next year's conference final. Game times are scheduled for 3 and 5 p.m. at the LVC Softball Park.
 
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