ANNVILLE, Pa. – Lindsey McCurdy and Kylie Balthaser recorded their 100th career hits while Erin Sinatra was dominant in the circle recording seven strikeouts including the 200th of her career as the top-seeded Lebanon Valley softball team cruised to a 12-1 five inning victory over fifth-seeded Eastern University on Thursday afternoon in the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Championship at the LVC Softball Park.
 
Eastern (22-13) had advanced to play LVC (31-7) with an 8-0 five inning victory over fourth-seeded Stevenson University in the first game of the tournament.
 
The Dutchmen jumped out on top with a big five-run first inning. Lexi Smith started the rally with a one-out single through the left side. Julia Craig singled to right center and then McCurdy recorded her milestone hit with an RBI single into the hole between the third baseman and the shortstop. Nicole Kratz knocked in two runs with a towering double that went off the fence down the left field line. Balthaser knocked in McCurdy with a groundout to short, Megan Heard singled to left, and then Anna Marie Hockman knocked in the final run of the inning with a single up the middle.
 
Sinatra didn't allow a hit or a batter to reach base until a single to begin the fourth. She struck out three of the first six hitters of the game including her milestone strikeout to begin the second inning. In the third inning, LVC put the game away with seven runs on nine hits. Balthaser recorded her milestone hit with an infield single to shortstop to lead off the inning. Heard beat out a perfectly placed bunt back to the pitcher. Two batters later Danni Holmes hit a two-out double down the line in right to score Heard. Sam Burns knocked her in with a triple down the line in left and then Smith hit a bunt single in front of the plate to score Burns. The two-out rally continued with a Craig single to right and then McCurdy was hit by a pitch. Kratz knocked in two more runs with a single to left center forcing a pitching change. Balthaser doubled home McCurdy with her second hit of the inning and then Heard knocked in the final run with a single to center.
 
Eastern scored their lone run in the fourth on a single and a double.
 
Inside the Box Score

• All nine batters in the starting lineup had at least one hit.
• Heard led the way with three hits, two runs scored, and two RBI.
• Smith, Criag, McCurdy, Kratz, and Balthaser each had two hits.
• The Dutchmen hit three doubles and one triple.
• Kratz led the team with three RBI.
• Sinatra struck out seven and allowed just one run on three hits to earn her 11th victory of the year. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will face second-seeded Messiah University tomorrow at 11 a.m. with the winner advancing to Saturday's Championship. Messiah defeated third-seeded York College of Pennsylvania 9-4 in the second game of the day.

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