SALISBURY, Md. – Shortstop
Megan Heard hit an inside-the-park home run in game one of the NCAA Super Regional, as the Lebanon Valley College softball team dropped a hard-fought 3-1 decision to No. 1 Salisbury University on Friday afternoon at Sea Gull Softball Stadium.
The first contest in this best-of-three series was a pitcher's duel, as Lebanon Valley (36-11) starter
Jordan Walter and Salisbury (43-3) hurler Lindsey Windsor were dominant. Walter tossed six quality innings, striking out two batters in the process. SU had multiple chances to tack on runs during the game, but Walter and LVC's defense managed to limit the opposition. The Dutchmen also delivered competitive at-bats at the plate, recording four hits and two walks.
The Sea Gulls had an opportunity to get on the scoreboard early, loading the bases with just one out in the bottom of the first inning. Walter then got the opposition to hit a pair of ground balls, allowing the Flying Dutchmen to escape the jam unscathed. Salisbury's fifth batter chopped a grounder to third baseman
Anna Marie Hockman, who fielded it and threw home to catcher
Danni Holmes for the force out. This was followed by a routine groundout to third, keeping the game scoreless through an inning of play.
LVC remained composed over the next two frames, blanking SU in the second and third innings, despite the opposition having runners in scoring position. The Sea Gulls got runners to second base with one out in each frame, but the Dutchmen managed to get back-to-back ground outs in both innings to keep the game tied at 0–0.
Lebanon Valley struck first in the top of the fourth, taking a 1-0 lead over Salisbury. Heard opened the scoring by hustling around the bases for an inside-the-park home run. The first-year hit a sinking line drive that got past the diving attempt of the center fielder, rolling all the way to the wall and scoring Heard without a play at the plate.
The Sea Gulls answered back in the bottom half of the fourth, tying the game at 1-1 on a double down the left field line. The club later had runners on first and second base with two outs, but Walter got Windsor to pop out to shortstop to retire the side.
SU crossed the plate again in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking a 2-1 lead against LVC on a single to center field. The Sea Gulls added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, extending their advantage to 3-1 on a bloop single to left-center field. This would ultimately stand as the final score.
Inside the Box Score
- Heard's fourth inning inside-the-park home run marks her first career homer.
- Walter fanned a pair of batters in six innings of work.
- Second baseman Lexi Smith singled in the third inning.
- Center fielder Lindsey McCurdy recorded a hit.
- Holmes picked up a single in the fifth inning.
Up Next
Lebanon Valley will continue its NCAA Super Regional series with Salisbury tomorrow afternoon, as first pitch for game two is set for 1 p.m. at Sea Gull Softball Stadium. If the Dutchmen win the contest, they will force a series-deciding game three that is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.
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