GLENSIDE, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College Softball team closed out conference play with a doubleheader sweep of Arcadia University, recording a 9-0 win in the first game and an 8-0 run-rule victory in six innings during the second matchup on Sunday, April 27, at Blankley Field.

Mackenzie Willey helped lead LVC's offense in the first contest with a home run and three RBIs, while Abby Reed pitched a shutout. In the second game, Megan Heard, Maddy Gronback, and Erin Pattillo each drove in a run and Holly Grube delivered a scoreless pitching performance. 

Game One 
The Dutchmen (24-11, 12-1 MAC Freedom) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead over the Knights (12-21, 6-7 MAC Freedom). Nicole Kratz came up to the plate with runners on first and second base with two outs and lined an RBI single up the middle, plating Smith. Reed then tossed a scoreless bottom of the first for Lebanon Valley, registering a groundout to Kratz at third base to strand a runner at second base. Reed also blanked the opposition in the bottom of the second, picking up a strikeout in the process.

The Flying Dutchmen added four more runs in the top of the third inning, extending their advantage to 5-0. Heard led off the frame with a single up the middle and stole second base, before scoring when Smith hit a ball to third base and reached second on a fielding error. Grube followed this by lining an RBI double to center field, knocking in Smith. Later in the inning, Kratz hit an RBI groundout to shortstop to plate Grube. Julia Craig then came through with an RBI single to center field, driving in pinch-runner Lauren Foster. 

Arcadia had runners on the corners with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Reed got LVC out of the frame with a flyout to Grube at second base. Reed also posted a zero in the bottom of the fourth, recording a popout to Heard at shortstop, a strikeout looking, and a groundout that the pitcher fielded herself. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Reed pitched a shutout frame with a strikeout swinging, a groundout to Kratz at third base, and a popout to Heard at shortstop. 

Lebanon Valley tacked on a run in the top of the sixth, going ahead 6-0 when Mackenzie Willey led off the inning by driving a solo home run over the left-center field fence. Reed followed this with a scoreless bottom of the sixth, notching the third out of the frame with a strikeout looking. 

The Dutchmen then tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning, making it a 9-0 game. Willey came up to the plate with the bases loaded with one out and hit a two-run single to left field, bringing home Gronback and Kratz. Pattillo followed this with an RBI groundout to shortstop, scoring Bella Mackison. Reed proceeded to close out LVC's 9-0 victory in the bottom of the seventh, logging the final out with a flyout to Smith in center field to leave runners on the corners. 

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley outhit Arcadia 10-8.
• Reed improved her record to 10-4, striking out a game-high five batters during her second complete-game shutout of the campaign. 
• Willey tied a season-high two hits with her third home run of the year, extending her hitting streak to seven. The senior also recorded a game-high three RBIs, marking her most with LVC. Willey also crossed the plate for her third straight game. 
• Kratz had two hits to extend her hitting streak to six while tying a season-high two RBIs. The junior also scored a run for a third consecutive game. 
• Grube logged two hits with a double to extend her hitting streak to four while scoring a run for a third consecutive game and driving in a run. The first-year also stole a base. 
• Heard tallied a base hit to extend her hitting streak to four while drawing a walk and scoring a run. The junior also had a game-high two stolen bases to match a season-high, marking her third straight game with a stolen base. 
• Pattillo registered a base hit to extend her hitting streak to six games and an RBI. The senior also stole a base for her fourth game in a row. 
• Craig picked up a base hit to extend her hitting streak to five and an RBI. 
• Smith scored a game-high two runs to mark a season-high. The senior also stole a base. 
• Mackison tallied a base hit, and a run scored. 
• Gronback had a game-high and career-high two walks while crossing the plate once. 
• Foster stole a base and scored a run for a third consecutive game. 

Game Two 
Lebanon Valley (25-11, 13-1 MAC Freedom) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking a 3-0 advantage against Arcadia (12-22, 6-8 MAC Freedom). The club loaded the bases with two outs and Craig then reached on a fielding error by the first baseman, allowing Smith, Grube, and Kratz to score. Grube also pitched for the Dutchmen and posted a zero in the bottom of the first, striking out a batter swinging to strand a runner at third base. 

Grube then retired the side in order in the bottom of the second with two groundouts and a popout to second baseman Emily Mitchell. Grube also blanked the Knights in the bottom of the third inning, logging a groundout to Mitchell at second base to strand runners on first and second base. This was followed by another 1-2-3 inning for Grube in the bottom of the fourth, registering a strikeout looking, a groundout to Kratz at third base, and a strikeout swinging. 

Lebanon Valley put another tally on the board in the top of the fifth inning, extending their lead to 4-0. Grube got on base with a single down the right-field line and advanced to third after a groundout and a passed ball. Grube then came home to score on another passed ball. The Knights followed this by putting runners on second and third base with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, but LVC got out of the frame unscathed with a popout and a groundout to Heard at shortstop. 

The Flying Dutchmen added four insurance runs in the top of the sixth, going up 8-0. The program got runners on the corners after a double to left field by Mackison and a bunt single for Willey. Pattillo then reached on a fielder's choice on a bunt to first base, allowing Foster to score. Heard also reached on a fielder's choice on a bunt to third base, and an error on the play brought home Willey and Pattillo. Later in the inning, Gronback hit an RBI double to left field to knock in Heard. In the bottom of the sixth, Grube closed out Lebanon Valley's 8-0 run-rule victory with three consecutive groundouts to Mitchell at second base.

Inside the Box Score

• The Dutchmen outhit the Knights 10-3. 
• Grube improved her record to 11-5 this year by striking out four batters in six scoreless innings. This marks the pitcher's fourth complete-game shutout of the campaign. At the plate, the first-year tallied a base hit to extend her hitting streak to five while scoring a game-high two runs, which marks a season-high. Grube also stole a base. 
• Heard tied a game-high two hits to extend her hitting streak to five while tallying an RBI and a run scored.
• Pattillo had a base hit to extend her hitting streak to seven while driving in a run for a third consecutive game and crossing the plate once. The senior also stole a base for her fifth straight game. 
• Smith tied a game-high and season-high two hits while scoring a run and stealing a base. 
• Gronback hit a double and had an RBI. 
• Willey picked up a base hit to extend her hitting streak to eight while crossing the plate for her fourth consecutive game. 
• Kratz walked and was hit by a pitch while scoring a run for her fourth consecutive game. 
• Mackison tied a game-high two hits with a double, extending her hitting streak to three games. 
• Foster crossed the plate for her fourth consecutive game. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will close out the regular season tomorrow, Monday, April 28, when the program will host Messiah University for a non-conference doubleheader at the LVC Softball Park. The first matchup is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

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