GETTYSBURG, Pa. ­­– Maddy Gronback drove in three runs and recorded three base hits during the Lebanon Valley College Softball team's doubleheader against No. 17 Gettysburg College on Wednesday, March 27, at Bobby Jones Field. The Flying Dutchmen battled tough in both games but dropped the matchups by scores of 8-1 and 10-4. 

Game One 
The Dutchmen (10-9, 3-1 MAC Freedom) started Abby Reed in the pitching circle, and she recorded a scoreless bottom of the first inning against the Bullets (17-3). The first-year retired the side in order with a groundout to second base, a strikeout swinging, and a flyout to left field. Gettysburg then opened the scoring in the bottom of the second, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI double to right field. 

Lebanon Valley also competed in the batter's box as the contest progressed, as Mackenzie Willey led off the top of the third inning with a double to left field. The Bullets followed this by scoring twice in the bottom of the third, taking a 3-0 advantage on an RBI single to right field and an RBI single through the left side. The Flying Dutchmen responded by getting on the board in the top of the fourth inning, narrowing the score to 3-1. The rally began when Julia Craig led off the frame with a single to center field, and Nicole Kratz reached on a fielding error on a ball hit to third base. Later in the inning, Katie Muller also hit a ball to third and got on base due to a fielding error, allowing Craig to cross the plate. 

Gettysburg added a run in the bottom of the fourth, going ahead 4-1 on an RBI single to right-center field. Maycee White then posted a zero for the Dutchmen in the bottom of the fifth inning during a relief outing, as Megan Heard caught a line drive and threw to first for a double play before Muller caught a flyout in right field. The Bullets later scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, making it an 8-1 game on an RBI single to center field, a two-run single to left field, and a wild pitch. LVC continued to battle at the plate until the final out, as Nikki Sellers hit a two-out pinch-hit single to left field in the top of the seventh inning. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Craig recorded a base hit and scored a run. 
• Gronback hit a double to extend her hitting streak to seven games. 
• Willey doubled to bring her hitting streak to three games.
• Holly Grube picked up a base hit to extend her hitting streak to five games.
• Sellers had a base hit. 
• Erin Pattillo stole a base. 
• Reed struck out two batters in 3.2 innings. 
• Maura Savoca pitched an inning of relief without allowing an earned run. 
• Catcher Bella Mackison threw out a runner attempting to steal second in the bottom of the second inning. 

Game Two 
Lebanon Valley (10-10, 3-1 MAC Freedom) struck first in this one, taking a 2-0 lead over Gettysburg (18-3). Heard led off the game with a single to left field before Grube hit a single up the middle. The runners then advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Craig before coming home to score on Gronback's two-run double to center field. Grube was also the starting pitcher for the Flying Dutchmen and blanked the opposition in the bottom half of the first, notching the third out with a strikeout swinging. The Bullets later scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning, taking a 3-2 advantage on an RBI double to right-center field, an RBI groundout to shortstop, and an RBI single through the left side.  

Gettysburg added two runs in the bottom of the third inning, going ahead 5-2 on a two-run single up the middle. The Dutchmen also kept battling in the batter's box as the game went on, as Caroline Hinkelman hit a one-out single to left-center field in the top of the fourth. The Bullets then scored once in the bottom of the fourth, taking a 6-2 lead on an RBI single to center field. 

Lebanon Valley crossed the plate twice in the top of the fifth inning, trimming its deficit to 6-4. Heard got things started with a one-out double to center field before coming home to score on Grube's RBI single to right field. Later in the frame, Gronback hit an RBI single up the middle to drive in Grube. Gettysburg countered with an RBI double to left field in the bottom of the fifth and three runs in the bottom of the sixth on wild pitches, taking a 10-4 lead. The Dutchmen kept battling until the final out, as Pattillo led off the top of the seventh with a single to shortstop. The Bullets then went on to preserve their advantage through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Gronback picked up two hits with a double while tying a game-high and career-high three RBIs. The junior extended her hitting streak to eight games. 
• Grube tied a game-high and season-high three hits to extend her hitting streak to six games. The first-year also tallied an RBI while tying a game-high and season-high two runs scored. Grube struck out a batter during her start in the pitching circle as well. 
• Heard registered two hits with a double while tying a game-high and career-high two runs scored. 
• Hinkelman recorded her first career hit with a single in the top of the fourth inning. The first-year also tied a game-high two strikeouts in three innings of relief.
• Pattillo logged a base hit. 
• Kratz was hit by a pitch. 

Up Next
The Flying Dutchmen will return to the diamond on Saturday, March 29, when the team will host Delaware Valley University for a doubleheader at the LVC Softball Park. The first matchup is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.  

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