WEEHAWKEN, N.J. ­­– Katie Muller recorded a base hit and an RBI in each game of the Lebanon Valley College Softball team's doubleheader sweep of Stevens Institute of Technology in its Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom opener, helping lead the club to 3-2 and 3-1 victories on Saturday, March 15, at Weehawken Waterfront Park. Bella Mackison also hit her first career home run for LVC during the first game. 

Game One 
Abby Reed pitched for the Dutchmen (6-5, 1-0 MAC Freedom) and began her outing with a zero in the bottom of the first inning, recording a double play and a groundout to shortstop. The Ducks (3-8, 0-1 MAC Freedom) then got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second, taking a 2-0 lead on an RBI single to center field and an RBI single to left field. Lebanon Valley's lineup later got a runner into scoring position in the top of the third inning, as Lauren Foster drew a walk and stole second base. 

Reed followed this by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the third, logging two popouts to second baseman Holly Grube and a lineout to center fielder Mackenzie Willey. The Flying Dutchmen then posted three runs in the top of the fourth inning, taking a 3-2 lead. Grube led off the frame with a single to left-center field before Mackison hit a two-run home run to center field. The club's rally continued when Nicole Kratz singled to center field and Julia Craig sent a single through the left side, and the runners later advanced to second and third. This was followed by Muller hitting an RBI single back to the pitcher, allowing Kratz to score the go-ahead run. 

Reed kept working to hold Stevens in check as the contest progressed, delivering shutout frames in the bottom of the fourth and fifth. The Ducks had runners on first and second base with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, but the pitcher recorded a flyout to center field to get out of the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Reed delivered a 1-2-3 frame with another flyout to center field, a popout to shortstop, and a lineout to center. Reed then closed out Lebanon Valley's victory in the bottom of the seventh, fielding two bunts for groundouts before notching the final out with a flyout to Willey in center. 

Inside the Box Score

• Mackison hit her first career home run, marking Lebanon Valley's first home run of the season. The first-year also had a game-high two RBIs, tying her season high. 
• Muller recorded a base hit and the go-ahead RBI in the fourth. The sophomore's single extended her hitting streak to four games. 
• Grube picked up a base hit to extend her hitting streak to five games. The first-year scored a run as well. 
• Kratz also tallied a hit and a run scored. 
• Foster registered her first career hit, the first two walks of her career, and a season-high two stolen bases. The first-year's totals in walks and stolen bases were game highs. 
• Craig logged a base hit.
• Reed earned her second win of the season by pitching a complete game. 

Game Two 
The Dutchmen (7-5, 2-0 MAC Freedom) struck first in the top of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead over the Ducks (3-9, 0-2 MAC Freedom). The club got on the board with an RBI single to right-center field by Maddy Gronback, driving in Grube. Erin Pattillo followed this by drawing a walk to load the bases, and Muller then walked with the bases full to score Craig. Stevens responded with a sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the first, narrowing the score to 2-1. 

Starting pitcher Maycee White tossed a scoreless bottom of the second inning, recording an unassisted groundout to first base, a groundout that she fielded, and a groundout to shortstop for a 1-2-3 frame. White also retired the side in order in the bottom of the third with a lineout to Muller in right field, a groundout to Grube at second, and a popout to Megan Heard at shortstop. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the pitcher faced runners on second and third with two outs and got out of the frame with a flyout to left field. 

Grube came in to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning and posted a zero against the Ducks with three consecutive groundouts. The Flying Dutchmen tacked on another run in the top of the sixth inning, extending their advantage to 3-1. Muller got things started with a triple to right-center field and later crossed the plate on an RBI single back to the pitcher by Nikki Sellers. Grube followed this by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the sixth with a strikeout swinging, a popout to second base, and a flyout to left field. Grube then secured LVC's 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, recording the final on a fielder's choice to leave the bases loaded. 

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley had a 9-6 advantage in base hits. 
• Grube tied a game-high two hits to extend her hitting streak to six and scored a run. The first-year also earned her second save of the season by striking out a batter in three scoreless innings. 
• Muller hit a triple to extend her hitting streak to five games while also tallying a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. 
• Gronback logged a base hit and an RBI. 
• Sellers picked up a base hit to extend her hitting streak to three and had an RBI. 
• Craig walked and scored a run. 
• Heard matched a game-high two hits with a double. 
• Pattillo and Willey each had a hit and a walk. 
• White improved her record to 3-0 this year, allowing just one run in four frames of work. 
• Mackison drew a walk.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to the diamond at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, when the club will take on Moravian University for the first game of a doubleheader at Blue & Grey Field in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 

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