CLERMONT, Fla. – The Lebanon Valley softball team pitched two shutouts in a pair of low scoring games on Friday as the Dutchmen earned a pair of wins over Penn State Behrend and Muskingum University. LVC defeated the Lions 2-0 in the first game of the day before a fourth inning run was the different in a 1-0 victory over the Muskies.
 
Game One vs. Penn State Behrend
Jordan Walter limited the Lions (5-4) to just one hit in the game. Both teams had a hit in the second inning as Nicole Kratz doubled to lead off the top half. She winded up being stranded at third as the Dutchmen were unable to drive her in. The Lions had a one-out single in the bottom half which was quickly erased on an inning-ending double play.
 
Erin Pattillo singled to lead off the third and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maddy Gronback. Sam Burns moved her over to third and then she scored on an error to give LVC a 1-0 lead. Kratz and Katie Muller hit back-to-back singles in the fourth to put runners on first and second with one out. The Lions were able to get out of the jam with a fly ball and ground out.
 
The score remained the same until the seventh when Lindsey McCurdy drew a one-out walk and then scored on a Nikki Sellers double to center. Walter got the first two batters to ground out to begin the bottom of the seventh before an error extended the inning. She got a pop up to third ending the threat and giving the Dutchmen the win.
 
Inside the Box

• Walter allowed just one hit and walked one against the 2023 AMCC runner ups who are expected to be near the top of their conference again this year.
• Kratz had two of LVC's five hits including a double. She also made three assists and had a putout in the field.
• Sellers knocked in a run with a double and made eight putouts at first base.
• Pattillo had a hit, scored the game-winning run, and made three putout and an assist in the field.

Game Two vs. Muskingum
The Dutchmen had another pitching duel in game two as the teams combined for five total hits. After a 1-2-3 first inning for Erin Sinatra in the circle, Lexi Smith drew a one-out walk in the bottom half. She stole second and advanced to third on a ground out to the right side. The Muskies (7-3) were able to get out of the inning with a popup to second. Sinatra struck out three hitters and allowed the first hit of the game in the top of the second. Muskingum used a lead off single and a two-out error to put runners at second and third in the third inning. Sinatra struck out the next hitter to get out of the jam.
 
Julia Craig hit a one-out double to left field in the bottom of the fourth. Erin Field came in to run for her and scored as Kratz singled up the middle. Muskingum got out of the inning with no more damage and then hit a lead off double to begin the fifth. Sinatra got three consecutive outs to get out of the jam and then shut down the Muskie offense the rest of the way to win her fourth game of the year.
 
Inside the Box

• LVC faced Muskingum for the second consecutive year in Florida and handed Madelyn Thomas her first loss of the year after the senior after she defeated the Dutchmen last year.
• Sinatra struck out nine to earn her second shutout of the week. She lowered her earned run average to 0.27 with her fourth win.
• Kratz knocked in a run with a single and made one putout in the field.
• Craig hit a double and made four putouts at first base.
• Burns and Smith each walked and stole a base.

Up Next
The 7-1 and 19th-ranked Dutchmen will face 10-1 and top-ranked defending National Champions Trine University tomorrow morning at the stadium field of Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont with first pitch scheduled for 11:30 a.m. LVC will then close out the trip with another tough opponent in Kean University at 1:45 p.m.

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