ANNVILLE, Pa. – The No. 19 Lebanon Valley College softball team began Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom play by sweeping Stevens Institute of Technology in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 16 in its home opener at LVC Softball Park. The Flying Dutchmen won the first game by a score of 6-1 while picking up an 8-0 victory in five innings during game two.
Game One
Erin Sinatra was the starting pitcher for Lebanon Valley (9-2, 1-0 MAC Freedom) and posted a scoreless top of the first inning against Stevens (7-4, 0-1 MAC Freedom). The Ducks had runners on first and second with one out, but Sinatra got out of the frame by striking out the next two batters. The Dutchmen opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, taking an early 2-0 lead. Sam Burns led off the inning with a walk before stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout. Julia Craig then hit a grounder to the Ducks' second baseman who threw home but Burns slid in safely ahead of the tag while Craig reached base. Later in the frame, Lindsey McCurdy hit a ground ball to second and reached on an error to score Craig.
Lebanon Valley kept its offense rolling in the bottom of the second inning, extending its advantage to 5-0. Craig hit an infield single toward the right side while Burns hustled home to score from second base. Nicole Kratz followed this by lining a single off the third baseman's glove and into left field, driving in Lexi Smith. The scoring was capped off by Katie Muller hitting an RBI single off the second baseman's glove before going into right field, plating Craig.
Sinatra continued to deliver a strong start as the contest progressed, keeping the opposition off the board. The senior retired the side in order in the third, registering a lineout to right field, a strikeout looking, and a pop out to shortstop. The Flying Dutchmen added another run in the bottom of the fourth, advancing its lead to 6-0. Megan Heard hit a ball to second base and reached on an error, scoring Kratz.
Sinatra maintained the LVC's lead through the top of the sixth inning, recording a scoreless frame with two more strikeouts. Stevens got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, making it a 6-1 game with an infield RBI single. This would stand as the final score, as Lebanon Valley would secure the victory with a pop out to first base.
Inside the Box Score
- The Flying Dutchmen won their first conference game as a member of the MAC Freedom.
- Sinatra improved her record to 6-0 on the season, tying a season-high nine strikeouts during a complete-game effort.
- Craig went 1-for-3 with a game-high two RBIs while scoring twice.
- Kratz recorded a game-high three hits, going 3-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored, and her first stolen base of the season.
- Muller went 2-for-3 while driving in a run.
- Burns walked, scored twice, and stole a base.
- Smith crossed the plate on Kratz's RBI single in the second inning.
- McCurdy and Maddy Gronback each had a base hit.
Game Two
Jordan Walter started for the Dutchmen (10-2, 2-0 MAC Freedom) in game two against the Ducks (7-5, 0-2 MAC Freedom), and put up a zero in the top of the first after three groundouts. Lebanon Valley didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard in the second contest, taking a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Burns led off with a single through the left side and stole second before Smith hit a single to left, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Craig then hit a grounder toward the left side that was thrown home by Stevens' third baseman, as Burns slid home ahead of the tag and Craig reached on the fielder's choice.
LVC then went ahead by two after Kratz hit a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Smith. Later in the inning, Heard lined an RBI single to center field to score Julia Craig. The ball was thrown home, allowing Heard to advance to second and McCurdy to go to third base. This was followed by Emily Mitchell hitting a two-run single into left field, giving the club a five-run advantage.
In the pitching circle, Walter continued to toss a shutout with a scoreless top of the third. The senior maintained Lebanon Valley's lead after a frame that included a pop out to second, a strikeout, and a groundout to second base. The Flying Dutchmen tacked on a few more runs in the bottom of the third, extending their advantage to 8-0. Mitchell picked up her third RBI of the game on a groundout back to the pitcher, bringing home Muller. Danni Holmes then added a run with an RBI groundout to third, driving in McCurdy. Burns capped off the scoring with an RBI single to right field, plating Heard.
Walter retired the side in order in the top of the fourth inning, following a couple of groundouts and a strikeout. The pitcher then secured the club's win in the top of the third inning, recording the final out with a groundout to third base.
Inside the Box Score
- Lebanon Valley tied its season-high for runs in a game with eight while recording a season-high 12 hits. Four players had multi-hit games for the club.
- Walter improved her record to 4-2 on the campaign, pitching a complete-game shutout by striking out three batters in five innings of work.
- Mitchell went 1-for-2 while driving in three runs, tying for the most RBIs by an LVC player in a game this year.
- Burns posted a 2-for-3 effort with an RBI, a run scored, and her 11th stolen base of the season.
- Craig went 1-for-3 while knocking in a run and scoring once.
- McCurdy went 3-for-3 and two runs scored.
- Muller crossed the plate once while going 2-for-3.
- Smith went 2-for-3 with a run scored and her sixth stolen base. The second baseman also had five assists, marking the most by a member of the Flying Dutchmen this season.
- Heard recorded a 1-for-2 contest with an RBI and two runs scored.
- Holmes picked up her third RBI of the campaign.
Up Next
The Flying Dutchmen will return to action at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, as the program will host Moravian University for a doubleheader.
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