ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– Nicole Kratz hit the game-winning home run in the first contest and knocked in a run in the second game, as the Lebanon Valley College Softball team split its doubleheader against DeSales University on Saturday, March 22, at the LVC Softball Park. The Flying Dutchmen began their home opener with an exciting 8-7 victory before dropping a hard-fought second matchup by a score of 6-5. 

Game One 
Abby Reed started in the pitching circle for the Dutchmen (8-7, 3-0 MAC Freedom) and began the afternoon by retiring the Bulldogs (3-8, 0-1 MAC Freedom) in order, recording two groundouts to shortstop and a strikeout looking. Lebanon Valley opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with a big five-run frame, taking an early 5-0 lead. Maddy Gronback came up to the plate with the bases loaded with no outs and lined an RBI single to center field, driving in Megan Heard. Julia Craig followed this by hitting an RBI single to left field to plate Smith, while the ball was bobbled by the left fielder, and Holly Grube crossed the plate on the error. Later in the inning, Bella Mackison hit a two-run double to center field to knock in Gronback and Craig. 

Reed also pitched a scoreless top of the second inning with a groundout and a pair of flyouts. DeSales then scored six runs in the top of the third, taking a 6-5 advantage on an RBI single down the left-field line, a two-run double that went into center field, a play that included an RBI single to right and an error, and a double play. The Bulldogs also tacked on a run in the top of the fourth inning, going ahead 7-5 on an RBI fielder's choice to shortstop. 

The Flying Dutchmen responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth, narrowing the score to 7-6. Craig hit a ball to second base and reached on an error, which allowed pinch-runner Maddie Russell to cross the plate. Grube then pitched a scoreless top of the fifth inning for LVC, registering a groundout to second base and two groundouts to third. Lebanon Valley followed this by putting a run on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, tying the game at 7-7. Erin Pattillo got things started by hitting a bunt single to first base and stealing second to get into scoring position. Later in the frame, Katie Muller hit a clutch, two-out RBI double down the right-field line to drive in Pattillo and even the score. 

Grube posted a zero for the Dutchmen in the top of the sixth inning, tossing a frame that included two groundouts to second base and a groundout to shortstop. Lebanon Valley then broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth, taking an 8-7 lead over DeSales. Kratz came to the plate with two outs and launched a solo home run over the center-field wall to put LVC ahead. Grube followed this by retiring the side in order in the top of the seventh with three groundouts. Lebanon Valley notched the final out with a groundout to Heard at shortstop, securing the 8-7 win. 

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley outhit DeSales 12-11.
• Kratz hit her first home run of the season, tallying an RBI and a run scored in the process. The junior's blast in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the difference in the ballgame. 
• Gronback had a base hit to extend her hitting streak to four games. The junior also drove in a run and crossed the plate once. 
• Muller tallied a double and an RBI. 
• Mackison tied season-highs with two hits and two RBIs. One of the hits by the first-year was a double. Mackison also drew a walk. 
• Craig matched a season-high two hits while logging an RBI and a run scored. The graduate student also matched the program record for career at-bats, tying Tessa Deardorff's record of 562. 
• Smith tied a season-high two hits, extending her hitting streak to three. The senior also crossed the plate once. 
• Grube registered a hit, a walk, and a run scored. The first-year also earned her third win of the year in the pitching circle, striking out two batters in five scoreless innings of relief. 
• Pattillo had a base hit to extend her hitting streak to three while recording a hit-by-pitch, a stolen base, and a run scored. 
• Heard picked up a base hit to extend her hitting streak to four games while scoring a run. 
• Russell scored a run. 
• Reed tallied a strikeout in her start.

Game Two 
Maycee White was the starting pitcher for Lebanon Valley (8-8, 3-1 MAC Freedom) and posted a zero in the top of the first inning, recording a groundout to shortstop for the third out of the frame. White also delivered a scoreless top of the second, fielding a groundout herself before notching the final two outs on fielder's choices. DeSales (4-8, 1-1 MAC Freedom) then opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, taking a 5-0 lead during a frame that included three RBI singles and a play where the club had an RBI double and scored a second run on the throw. 

The Dutchmen responded with a run in the bottom of the third, narrowing the score to 5-1. Mackenzie Willey led off the inning with a double to center field before later coming home on an RBI single to center by Grube. Grube then pitched a shutout top of the fourth inning for LVC, recording a strikeout swinging, a flyout to left field, and another strikeout swinging. The Bulldogs followed this by adding a run with an RBI double to right-center field in the top of the fifth, going up 6-1. 

Grube delivered another zero for the Flying Dutchmen in the top of the sixth inning, tallying three groundouts. Lebanon Valley also continued to compete in the batter's box in the bottom of the sixth, trimming its deficit to 6-2. Gronback led off the frame with a double to left-center field and later crossed the plate on Muller's RBI single to center. 

Grube kept her strong relief outing going in the top of the seventh inning, blanking the opposition with a groundout to third base and a pair of fielder's choices. The Dutchmen followed this by continuing to battle back in the bottom of the seventh, making it a 6-5 game. Pattillo led off the inning and reached on an error before advancing to second with a stolen base. Heard then lined an RBI triple to right-center field, driving in Pattillo. Grube followed this with an RBI groundout to shortstop, bringing home Heard. Later in the frame, pinch runner Lauren Foster scored on an RBI groundout back to the pitcher by Kratz. Ultimately, DeSales maintained its lead through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube picked up a base hit and a season-high two RBIs, which also tied for the most in the game. Additionally, the first-year had three strikeouts in five innings of relief. 
• Heard recorded two hits with a triple, extending her hitting streak to five games. The junior also had an RBI and a run scored. 
• Muller logged a hit, a walk, and an RBI. 
• Gronback registered two hits with a double, extending her hitting streak to five. The junior also scored a run. 
• Willey tied a career-high two hits while picking up a double. The senior also scored a run.
• Kratz hit a double and knocked in a run. 
• Foster scored her first career run.  
• Pattillo crossed the plate once and stole a base for the third straight contest. 
• Craig had a base hit. The graduate student also set the program record for career at-bats, bringing her total to 566. This record was previously held by Deardorff.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action on Tuesday, March 25, when the team will host Alvernia University for a doubleheader at the LVC Softball Park. The first matchup is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

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