ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College Softball team swept the University of Scranton in a doubleheader behind solid pitching performances and a strong effort in the batter's box, posting a 9-1 run-rule victory in the first matchup and a 7-2 win in the second game on Wednesday, April 23, at the LVC Softball Park. 

The Flying Dutchmen received several contributions at the plate, as Maddy Gronback and Erin Pattillo each drove in three runs. Nicole Kratz was also an impactful performer, hitting a home run in the second contest. In the pitching circle, Abby Reed and Holly Grube both delivered complete-game efforts for LVC. 

Game One 
Reed pitched for the Dutchmen (22-11, 11-1 MAC Freedom) and tossed a scoreless top of the first inning, recording a foul out to catcher Bella Mackison and a popout to third baseman Nicole Kratz to leave a runner at first base. Reed also posted a zero in the top of the second, retiring the Royals (17-12, 6-6 Landmark) in order with a strikeout swinging, a groundout that the pitcher fielded herself, and another strikeout swinging.

Reed continued her strong start for LVC in the top of the third inning, logging a flyout to right fielder Katie Muller and two strikeouts looking. Lebanon Valley then opened the scoring in the bottom half of the third, taking a 3-0 lead over Scranton. The club had runners on second and third base with one out and Grube delivered an RBI single up the middle, driving in Megan Heard. Gronback followed this by lining a two-run single down the right-field line, plating Lexi Smith and Grube.

Reed also blanked the opposition in the top of the fourth, notching the third out with a popout to Heard at shortstop to strand a runner at first base. The Dutchmen added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth, extending their advantage to 7-0. The program had runners on second and third base with no outs and Smith hit an RBI single to shortstop, knocking in Pattillo. Later in the frame, Mackison and Nikki Sellers each drew a walk with the bases loaded, bringing home Grube and Gronback, respectively. Kratz also scored on a wild pitch during the key inning. 

The Royals countered with a run in the top of the fifth inning, narrowing the score to 7-1 on an RBI single up the middle. The Dutchmen then tacked on two runs in the bottom of the fifth, winning the game 9-1. Pattillo was on second base and advanced to third on a groundout to third base, but Scranton's first baseman then threw the ball past third base, allowing the senior to score on the error. This was followed by Lauren Foster drawing a walk and stealing second base before coming home on Gronback's RBI single to right-center field, which secured LVC's 9-1 run-rule victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley outhit Scranton 11-3. 
• The Dutchmen stole a season-high seven bases. 
• Gronback tied a game-high two hits and had a game-high three RBIs while crossing the plate once. 
• Smith tied a game-high and season-high two hits with a double while recording an RBI and a run scored. The senior also tied a game-high and season-high two stolen bases. 
• Heard tied a game-high two hits to extend her hitting streak to three while scoring a run. The junior also tied a game-high two stolen bases to mark a season-high. 
• Pattillo had a hit to extend her hitting streak to four and tied a game-high and career-high two runs scored. The senior also tied a game-high and season-high two stolen bases. 
• Grube picked up a base hit, a walk, and an RBI while tying a game-high and season-high two runs scored. 
• Sellers logged a base hit and a walk while driving in a run. 
• Mackison hit a double while recording a walk and an RBI. 
• Kratz tallied a base hit to extend her hitting streak to four while crossing the plate once. 
• Foster drew a walk, stole a base, and scored a run. 
• Maura Savoca drew a walk for her third consecutive game. 
• Reed improved her record to 9-4 this season, striking out four batters in five innings. 

Game Two 
Grube was Lebanon Valley's (23-11, 11-1 MAC Freedom) pitcher in the second matchup, and the first-year began the outing by logging a groundout to Heard at shortstop to strand runners on second and third base in the top of the first. Grube followed this by retiring Scranton (17-13, 6-6 Landmark) in order in the top of the second inning, striking out the first two batters swinging before a groundout to second baseman Emily Mitchell. The Royals then opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-0 lead on a steal of home during a double-steal and an RBI single to left-center field. 

Grube pitched a shutout top of the fourth for the Dutchmen, notching the third out with a groundout to Kratz at third base to leave runners on the corners. Lebanon Valley got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth, making it a 2-1 game when Kratz crushed a two-out solo home run over the left-field fence. Grube followed this by delivering 1-2-3 top of the fifth inning for LVC in the pitching circle, recording a strikeout swinging, a lineout to first baseman Julia Craig, and a lineout to Kratz at third base. 

The Flying Dutchmen crossed the plate again in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at 2-2. Mackenzie Willey led off the frame with a double down the left-field line and stole third base. Pattillo then came through with an RBI sacrifice bunt to third base, scoring Willey. This was followed by a scoreless top of the sixth for Grube, in which the third out of the inning was made when Gronback threw from behind the plate to Heard at shortstop to catch a runner attempting to steal. 

Lebanon Valley then posted a big five-run bottom of the sixth, taking a 7-2 lead. The team had runners on second and third base with one out and Craig drove a two-run double to center field, plating Grube and Foster. Willey followed this with an RBI double to right field, bringing in Reed. Pattillo then delivered a two-run single to right-center field, knocking in Willey and Mitchell. Grube proceeded to retire the side in order in the top of the seventh inning, securing the 7-2 win for the Dutchmen with a groundout to Kratz at third base, a lineout to Pattillo in left field, and a groundout to Heard at shortstop. 

Inside the Box Score

• The Dutchmen outhit the Royals 11-7. 
• Pattillo tied a game-high two hits to extend her hitting streak to five while driving in a game-high three runs, tying a career-high. The senior also had a game-high two stolen bases, matching a season-high and marking her third consecutive contest with a stolen base. 
• Kratz tied a game-high and season-high two hits with her second home run of the year.
• Grube tied a game-high two hits with a triple to extend her hitting streak to three while scoring a run. In the pitching circle, the first-year improved her record to 10-5 by striking out five batters in seven innings.
• Willey tied a game-high and season-high two hits with a game-high two doubles to match a career-high, extending her hitting streak to six games. The senior also had an RBI while tying a game-high and season-high two runs scored. Additionally, Willey stole a base. 
• Craig hit a double to extend her hitting streak to four games and drove in two runs. 
• Mitchell logged a hit, a stolen base, and a run scored.
• Heard had a base hit to extend her hitting streak to three, a hit-by-pitch, and a stolen base. 
• Foster stole a base and crossed the plate once. 
• Reed scored a run. 
• Gronback threw out a runner attempting to steal second base. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will return to action on Saturday, April 26, when the program will travel to take on Arcadia University for a doubleheader at Blankley Field in Glenside, Pennsylvania. The first game of the club's final two matchups against a MAC Freedom opponent during the regular season will begin at 1 p.m.

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