LANCASTER, Pa. ­­– Holly Grube pitched an excellent game while Maddy Gronback and Erin Pattillo each drove in three runs, helping propel the Lebanon Valley College Softball team to a dominant 11-0 run-rule victory in six innings over Franklin & Marshall College on Wednesday, April 2, at Baker Campus Fields. The Flying Dutchmen were leading 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning in the second contest of the scheduled doubleheader, but the game was called after a lengthy weather delay.

Game One 
Grube pitched for the Dutchmen (13-10, 5-1 MAC Freedom) and began the day by retiring the side in order in the bottom of the first inning. The first-year tossed a scoreless opening frame against the Diplomats (5-12, 0-2 Centennial) with a groundout to shortstop Megan Heard, a strikeout swinging, and a groundout to second baseman Emily Mitchell. Lebanon Valley struck first in the top of the second, taking an early 1-0 lead. The club had runners on second and third base with two outs, and Pattillo hit an RBI single to shortstop to drive in Bella Mackison. 

Grube also posted a zero for LVC in the bottom of the second inning, striking out two more batters in the process. The Flying Dutchmen then added a run in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-0 advantage. Grube got into scoring position with a double to left-center field before coming home on Gronback's RBI double down the left-field line. Back in the pitching circle, Grube continued her strong start in the bottom of the third with a groundout to third baseman Nicole Kratz, a groundout that the first-year pitcher fielded, and a lineout to Heard at shortstop. 

Grube tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning for Lebanon Valley as well, notching the third out of the frame with a strikeout looking. The Dutchmen also kept competing in the batter's box as the contest progressed, delivering a big five-run top of the fifth to go ahead 7-0. Gronback came to the plate with runners on second and third base and drove a two-run double to center field, knocking in Mitchell and Grube. Later in the frame, Katie Muller reached base on an error, which allowed pinch runner Maddie Russell to cross the plate. Pattillo followed this by lining an RBI single to left field, driving in Nicole Kratz. Heard then drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring home Mackison. 

Grube's dominant outing kept going in the bottom of the fifth inning, as the pitcher registered a groundout to Heard at shortstop and two strikeouts swinging. Lebanon Valley also continued its impressive offensive performance in the top of the sixth, plating four more runs to make it an 11-0 ballgame. The program got things started with singles by Russell and Abby Reed, who advanced to second and third on a groundout. Mackison then lined an RBI single to left field, plating Russell. Mackenzie Willey followed this with an RBI single to center field, bringing in Reed. Pattillo then hit an RBI single to left-center field, driving in Mackison. LVC tallied its last run of the contest when Abby McElroy reached first base on an error, allowing Willey to score. In the bottom half of the sixth, Grube closed out Lebanon Valley's 11-0 run-rule victory by retiring the side in order. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube recorded her sixth victory of the season, pitching a gem by holding the opposition to one hit while striking out a season-high six batters in six scoreless innings. At the plate, the first-year tied a game-high and season-high three hits with a double to extend her hitting streak to eight games. Grube also tied a season-high two runs scored to mark her third straight game with a run, while stealing a base. 
• Pattillo tied game-highs and career-highs with three hits and three RBIs. The senior also stole a base. 
• Gronback had a game-high two doubles to match a career-high, extending her hitting streak to 11 games. The junior also tied a game-high and career-high three RBIs. 
• Mackison tied a season-high two hits while driving in a run and scoring a game-high and season-high three runs. The first-year also drew a walk. Additionally, the catcher picked off a runner leading off of first base in the bottom of the second.  
• Willey had a hit, an RBI, and a run scored.  
• Mitchell picked up a base hit to extend her hitting streak to three while scoring a run for the third straight game.
• Reed registered her first career hit and her first career run scored. 
• Russell also recorded her first career hit while scoring a season-high two runs. 
• Heard tallied a walk for the third game in a row and had an RBI. 
• Kratz walked while scoring a run for the third consecutive game.
• Muller knocked in a run. 
• Julia Craig tallied a base hit. 
• Maura Savoca drew a walk. 

Game Two 
Maycee White pitched for Lebanon Valley and started the game with a 1-2-3 bottom of the first inning, recording a groundout to Kratz at third base and two groundouts to Heard at shortstop. White also delivered a shutout bottom of the second inning for LVC, which included a key defensive play for the second out. Franklin & Marshall hit a double to center field that prompted the runner on first to attempt to score, but Willey threw the ball to Heard, who fired home for Gronback to tag out the runner.

The Dutchmen got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead over the Diplomats. The club got runners on second and third base with no outs on a single and stolen base by Heard before Pattillo hit a bunt single to advance the runner and stole second. Grube followed this with a sacrifice fly to center field, driving in Heard. The game was then called with one out in the bottom of the third inning while Franklin & Marshall had a runner on first.  

Up Next
The Flying Dutchmen will return to action on Friday, April 4, when the team will travel to take on Misericordia University in a doubleheader at Anderson Field in Dallas, Pennsylvania. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

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