CLERMONT, Fla. – Lindsey McCurdy ended the week in Florida with a walk-off triple to give the Lebanon Valley softball team an exciting 8-7 comeback victory over Kean University at Legends Way in Clermont. Earlier in the day, the Dutchmen were defeated by top-ranked and defending National Champion Trine University.
 
Game One vs. No. 1 Trine
In a battle of two Top 20 teams, the defending national champions continued their strong start to the year with an 11-0 victory in five innings. Trine improved to 12-1 and have outscored teams 95-14 this season as they look for a title repeat this spring.
 
Seven of the 11 runs scored by the Thunder were unearned as the Dutchmen made six errors in the game. Trine scored twice in the first inning, six in the third, ad three more in the fourth inning.
 
Inside the Box

• Lexi Smith had the only hit of the game for the Dutchmen with a fourth inning single to left field.
• Jordan Walter struck out four hitters to give her 274 in her career. She is just five strikeouts from moving into the top five in program history.
• Erin Pattillo faced five batters in the third inning and didn't allow a hit while getting three outs in relief.

Game Two vs. Kean
The Cougars (3-1) got on the board first in the top of the first inning with an unearned run to take the early lead. LVC (8-2) struck right back in the bottom of the inning as Sam Burns walked, stole second and third, and scored as the throw from the catcher went into left field on her steal of third. Kean loaded the bases with one out in the top of the second and cleared the bases on an inside-the-park home run to right field.
 
The Dutchmen responded in the third with a big inning of their own as nine batters came to the plate in a five-run inning. Maddy Gronback led the inning off with a double to left. Burns single to left to put runners on the corners before Smith drove in a run with a single to left. The hit was the 100th of her career. Julia Craig loaded the bases with a single to center and then Nicole Kratz reached on an error to score Burns. Katie Muller then knocked in Smith with a single to left. Craig scored the tying run as the Cougars got the first outs of the inning and then Megan Heard singled back to the pitcher to plate Kratz with the go-ahead run.
 
LVC kept the lead until the fifth when Kean had a pair of singles and then a one-out double to plate the two runners and retake the lead at 7-6. The Cougars kept the Dutchmen bats at bay until the seventh. Craig started the rally with a one-out single. After a pop up to second, Muller drew a walk to keep the inning alive. McCurdy came to the plate and drove in the game-winning runs with a walk-off triple to right field.
 
Inside the Box

• Criag had three hits and scored a run to lead the offense.
• Burns stole three bases and had two hits with two runs scored.
• Smith recorded the 100th hit of her career, scored a run, and knocked in a run.
• McCurdy knocked in two runs on her triple, her second of the year.
• Erin Sinatra struck out eight to improve to 5-0 in the circle.

Up Next
The Dutchmen finish the week in Florida with an 8-2 record and will return to Annville where they will open conference play next Saturday with the home opener against Stevens Institute of Technology.

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