CLEVELAND, Ohio ­­– Julia Craig set the Lebanon Valley College Softball team's career RBIs record during its 5-1 victory over Penn College, advancing the club to game five of the Cleveland Regional in the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament on Friday, May 16, at Mather Park. Lebanon Valley's excellent season then came to a close, as the program dropped a hard-fought 7-1 decision to host and No. 17 Case Western Reserve University. 

Game One vs. Penn College 
The third-seeded Dutchmen (30-14) were the visiting team on the scoreboard in this matchup, and pitcher Holly Grube posted a scoreless bottom of the first inning against the fourth-seeded Wildcats (28-17). The first-year pitcher recorded the third out of the frame with an unassisted groundout to Craig at first base, stranding a runner at second base. Penn College then had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the second, but Lebanon Valley got out of the inning with a groundout to shortstop Megan Heard. 

The Flying Dutchmen opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, taking a 4-0 lead. Erin Pattillo got things started with a bunt single to first base and advanced to third base with a pair of stolen bases. Heard then lined an RBI single through the right side, driving in Pattillo. Later in the frame, Nicole Kratz came up to the plate with the bases loaded and drew a one-out walk, bringing home Heard. Craig followed this with a two-run single up the middle, knocking in Maddy Gronback and Nicole Kratz. This base hit brought Craig's career RBI total to 120, setting the program's all-time record. 

The Wildcats countered with a run on a steal of home during a double steal attempt, narrowing the score to 4-1 in the bottom of the third. LVC catcher Bella Mackison also threw out a runner attempting to steal second base on the play. Grube then tossed a scoreless bottom of the fourth for Lebanon Valley, logging the third out with a groundout to Heard at shortstop to strand a runner at first base. Grube blanked Penn in the bottom of the fifth as well, registering the third out with a groundout to second baseman Emily Mitchell to leave a runner at second. 

The Wildcats had runners on first and second base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Dutchmen got out of the inning unscathed when Kratz fielded a ground ball and stepped on third base for the force-out. Lebanon Valley then tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, extending its advantage to 5-1. Heard led off the inning with a single up the middle and stole second base before Grube singled to shortstop and stole second, putting runners on second and third base with one out. Gronback then came through with an RBI sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher, plating Heard. 

Grube proceeded to secure LVC's 5-1 win with a shutout bottom of the seventh. The pitcher recorded the final two outs on a double play where Mitchell fielded a grounder to second, tagged out the runner attempting to advance to second, and threw the ball to Craig at first. 

Inside the Box Score

• Craig's two-run single in the top of the third brought her career RBI total to 120, setting Lebanon Valley's program record for RBIs. This record was previously held by Allie Hartman, who recorded 118 RBIs in her career with LVC. 
• Grube improved her record to 13-7 on the season, striking out two batters without allowing an earned run during a complete-game performance. At the plate, the first-year tied a game-high two hits with a double while drawing a walk for her third consecutive game. Grube also tied a game-high two stolen bases to set a season-high. 
• Heard tied a game-high two hits to extend her hitting streak to four games while driving in a run and scoring a game-high two runs, tying a career-high. The junior also tied a game-high and season-high two stolen bases. 
• Gronback logged a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. 
• Kratz also had a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. 
• Pattillo recorded a base hit to extend her hitting streak to 15 games while crossing the plate once. The senior also tied a game-high and season-high two stolen bases. 
• Lexi Smith drew a walk and stole a base. 
• Mackison registered a walk. The catcher also threw out a runner attempting to steal a base. 
• Lebanon Valley tied a season-high seven stolen bases, matching its total from the 9-1 victory over the University of Scranton on April 23. 

Game Two vs. No. 17 Case Western Reserve 
Lebanon Valley (30-15) was the home team on the scoreboard in its second game of the afternoon. Second-seeded Case Western Reserve (30-11) got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, taking a 2-0 lead on a two-run home run to right field. The Dutchmen then created some traffic on the bases in the bottom of the first, as Heard and Smith each drew a walk. The Spartans followed this with an RBI single to left field, taking a 3-0 advantage.

Lebanon Valley answered back in the bottom of the second, trimming its deficit to 3-1. Craig got the program on the board by launching a solo homer over the right-field fence. Case Western Reserve countered with a solo home run to center field and a two-run single to left-center field in the top of the third inning, going ahead 6-1. 

Reliever Abby Reed pitched a scoreless top of the fourth for the Flying Dutchmen, recording a popout to Grube at second base to leave runners on first and second base. Lebanon Valley also limited the Spartans in the top of the fifth inning, stranding runners on second and third after an excellent catch on a line drive by right fielder Mackenzie Willey and a flyout that Pattillo caught in foul territory down the left-field line. 

LVC continued to compete in the batter's box as the contest went into the bottom of the fifth, as Smith lined a two-out single to center field. Case Western Reserve then added a run on a sacrifice fly to center field in the top of the sixth, making it a 7-1 game. Maura Savoca then posted a zero for the Dutchmen in the top of the seventh inning, registering a popout and a groundout to Grube at second base, while Gronback later ended the inning by throwing out a runner attempting to steal second base. Lebanon Valley proceeded to battle at the plate until the final out, as Craig and Heard each drew a walk in the bottom of the seventh. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Craig hit her third home run of the season and drew a walk. 
• Smith tallied a base hit while drawing a walk for a third consecutive game. 
• Willey picked up a hit. 
• Heard had a game-high and career-high three walks. 
• Mackison tallied a walk.  
• Pattillo recorded a hit-by-pitch and her 30^th stolen base of the year. 
• Gronback threw out a runner attempting to steal a base.
• Heard and Craig were named to the All-Tournament Team for their play over the course of the three games. 
• Lebanon Valley concluded the 2025 season with a 30-15 overall record. 

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