CLERMONT, Fla. – The Lebanon Valley softball team was down to the final strike four times before scoring twice in the top of the seventh inning to complete a 6-5 comeback victory over Adrian College before using a six-run first inning to take down Thomas College 8-0 in five innings on Monday at the Spring Games in Clermont, Florida.
Game One vs. Adrian
The Dutchmen (3-0) and Bulldogs (1-2) traded blows in the first inning that resulted in no runs.
Sam Burns led off the game with a walk, stole second, and then headed to third on a ground out. Unfortunately, she was stranded there. Th Bulldogs led off the inning with a single and moved the runner to third with two ground outs.
Jordan Walter induced another grounder to third to get out of the inning. The batters went down in order until the bottom of the third when Adrian struck first with four runs on four hits and an error.
LVC came right back in the top of the fourth with a two-out rally.
Julia Craig hit a one-out single to right and then back-to-back singles to center by
Lindsey McCurdy and
Katie Muller loaded the bases.
Megan Heard cleared the bases with a triple to left field to cut the lead down to one. The Bulldogs responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-3 advantage. The Dutchmen got the run back in the sixth as Heard walked with two outs and then two batters later
Danni Holmes knocked her in with a double to right field.
The Bulldogs were able to get out of the inning and looked poised to upset the Dutchmen after two quick outs to begin the seventh. Craig worked a full count before knocking a double to right.
Nicole Kratz then worked a walk and a full count to put runners on first and second. McCurdy also worked a full count before drawing a walk go load the bases. Muller came to the plate and delivered with a full count with a single scoring
Erin Pattillo and
Catherine Stone who both came in the game as pinch runners. Walter shut the door with two balls to shortstop and a strikeout in the bottom half to give LVC the thrilling win.
Inside the Box
- Muller had the first game-winning hit of her career. The first-year had two hits in the game, knocked in two runs, and scored a run.
- Craig had two hits including a double and scored a run. The first baseman made eight putouts.
- Heard knocked in three runs with her big triple. She also scored a run.
- Holmes had two hits including a double and knocked in a run.
- Walter improved to 2-0 with a complete game. She struck out seven and had 11 ground outs.
Game Two vs. Thomas
The Dutchmen (4-0) kept the bats hot to start the game as they batted around for the first time this year in the first inning. Burns led the bottom of the inning off with a walk. She stole second and then Heard walked. The duo completed an excellent double steal to put runners on second and third. Craig and Kratz hit back-to-back singles to center to plate two runs. After a sacrifice bunt by
Mackenzie Willey,
Nikki Sellers singled to right to knock in Craig. Pattillo knocked in Kratz with an infield single to second before two more runs scored on an error to make it 6-0. The Dutchmen had four hits and took advantage on one error in the inning to build their lead.
Erin Sinatra took care of the rest in the circle as she allowed just two hits and walked one over the first five innings. Sellers led off the third with a single to center and scored three batters later after a Pattillo infield single and Holmes RBI single to left. The Dutchmen scored the final run of the game in the fifth inning to enforce the run-rule victory on one hit and an error. Pattillo singles to left, stole second, and then advanced to third on a passed ball. After Holmes walked and stole second, Pattillo scored the game-ending run with two outs on an error by the Terriers.
Inside the Box
- Pattillo had herself a day with three hits, two runs scored, and a run batted in.
- Kratz continued her hot start to the year with two hits, including a double, a run scored, and a run batted in.
- Sellers also had two hits, scored twice, and knocked in a run.
- The Dutchmen had seven stolen bases in the game highlighted by Pattillo with three and Burns with two.
- Sinatra struck out six in the circle to pick up her second win of the year.
Up Next
LVC will be back at Legends Way Ballfields on Tuesday for two games against a pair of Western Pennsylvania teams. The Dutchmen will take on Westminster College at 9:15 a.m. before facing Allegheny College at 11:30 a.m. on Field 4.
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