WINTER HAVEN, Fla. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College Softball team began the season by splitting its doubleheader on Opening Day, as the program dropped its first matchup 5-4 to Bethany Lutheran College before defeating Dominican University (Ill.) 1-0 on Sunday, March 2, at DiamondPlex. The Flying Dutchmen picked up their first win of the campaign behind an RBI double by Nicole Kratz and an excellent pitching performance by Maycee White. 

Game One vs. Bethany Lutheran 
The Vikings (7-2) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly to left field. Starting pitcher Abby Reed then tossed a scoreless top of the second for the Dutchmen (0-1), recording the outs on a fielder's choice and two flyouts. Reed also blanked the opposition in the top of the third inning, retiring the side in order with a groundout to shortstop, a strikeout swinging, and a groundout to third. 

Lebanon Valley got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third with a big four-run inning, taking a 4-1 advantage. The program loaded the bases after Mackenzie Willey got on base with a single to left-center, Megan Heard later reached on a fielding error by the left fielder, and Lexi Smith singled to shortstop. Julia Craig was then hit by a pitch, scoring Willey. This was followed by Bella Mackison and Holly Grube each drawing a walk with the bases full, bringing home Heard and Smith, respectively. LVC's fourth run of the frame was scored when Pattillo hit a ball to third base and reached on a fielding error, allowing Mackison to cross the plate. 

Bethany Lutheran added a run in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run to left field, narrowing the score to 4-2. Reed followed this with a 1-2-3 top of the fifth with a flyout to Smith in left-center field, a groundout to third base, and a flyout to left field. 

Reed also delivered a shutout inning for Lebanon Valley in the top of the sixth with a groundout to shortstop, a lineout to center field, and a fielder's choice. The Vikings then scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning, taking a 5-4 lead on an RBI single to left, an RBI groundout to shortstop, and an RBI single up the middle. This would stand as the final score. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube recorded her first career hit with a double, while also tallying her first career RBI, walk, hit-by-pitch, and stolen base. 
• Mackison logged her first career walk, RBI, and run scored. 
• Craig registered an RBI.
• Smith tied a game-high two hits while scoring a run. 
• Willey had a base hit and a run scored. 
• Heard walked twice, scored a run, and stole a base. 
• Erin Field hit her first career triple.
• Maddy Gronback and Pattillo each drew a walk. 
• Reed recorded her first career strikeout in 6.1 innings of work. 

Game Two vs. Dominican (Ill.)
The Dutchmen (1-1) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead over the Stars (0-1). Heard led off the game with a double to left field, putting a runner in scoring position. Later in the frame, Nicole Kratz hit a two-out RBI double to left, driving in Heard. White followed this by pitching a scoreless frame in the bottom half of the first, and the third out was recorded when Mackison, LVC's catcher in game two, threw to Heard at shortstop to catch a runner attempting to steal second base. 

White then posted a zero for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the second inning, retiring the side in order with a groundout to second, a groundout to third base, and another groundout to second. The pitcher continued to preserve the program's lead as the contest went into the bottom of the third, holding the opposition in check after a leadoff triple. 

The Flying Dutchmen also worked to keep Dominican from putting a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning, recording a shutout frame with a groundout to shortstop, a groundout back to White, and an unassisted groundout to Craig at first base. The Dutchmen battled in the batter's box as well, as Pattillo hit a one-out double to right field in the top of the fifth inning. 

Back in the pitching circle, Reed blanked the Stars again in the bottom of the fifth and recorded the first two outs when Grube caught a line drive at second and threw to Heard at shortstop for the double play. In the bottom of the sixth inning, the first-year pitcher registered another zero with a popout to third, a flyout to right, and a lineout to shortstop. Reed then closed out Lebanon Valley's first victory of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning, recording a flyout to center, a groundout to shortstop, and a lineout to center field. 

Inside the Box Score

• Kratz hit a double to record the game-winning RBI. 
• Heard doubled and scored on the hit by Kratz. 
• Pattillo also hit a double for LVC. 
• Grube tallied a base hit as well. 
• Smith stole a base during the contest. 
• White picked up her first career win, pitching a complete-game shutout for the Dutchmen. 
• Mackison threw out a runner attempting to steal. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will be back in action at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, March 3, when the program will take on Johnson & Wales University at Fortune Road Field 2 in Kissimmee, Florida. The Dutchmen will then face off against Adrian College for their second game of the day, at 11:15 a.m. at Fortune Road Field 2.

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