ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– The top-seeded Lebanon Valley College Softball team earned a trip to the Championship round of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championship, delivering an 8-1 victory over third-seeded Misericordia University in game three of the conference tournament on Friday, May 2, at the LVC Softball Park. 

Holly Grube played an important role in the victory for the Flying Dutchmen, recording game-highs with three hits and four RBIs. Nicole Kratz was also a key contributor, hitting a two-run home run for LVC. Maddy Gronback drove in two runs as well, while hitting a pair of doubles. In the pitching circle, Abby Reed posted a complete-game performance.

Reed began her outing with a shutout top of the first inning for the Dutchmen (28-12), notching the final out of the frame with a fielder's choice to shortstop Megan Heard for the force-out, leaving runners on the corners. Lebanon Valley's lineup struck first in the bottom half of the first, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead over the Cougars (27-13). Lexi Smith reached base on a fielder's choice to shortstop and moved into scoring position by stealing second. Gronback then drove an RBI double to right field, knocking in Smith. Kratz followed this by launching a two-run home run over the right-center field fence, plating Gronback. 

Reed tossed a scoreless top of the second for the Flying Dutchmen, registering the final two outs of the frame with swinging strikeouts to strand a runner at first base. Lebanon Valley added another run in the bottom of the second, taking a 4-0 advantage. Grube came up to the plate with the bases loaded with two outs and hit an RBI single up the middle, driving in Erin Pattillo. Misericordia countered with an RBI triple to right-center field in the top of the third inning, narrowing the score to 4-1. 

Reed posted another zero for the Dutchmen in the top of the fourth, logging the final two outs with a flyout to Pattillo in left field and a strikeout looking to leave a runner on first base. Lebanon Valley tacked on four insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth, going ahead 8-1. The program loaded the bases with one out on walks by Pattillo, Heard, and Smith. Grube followed this by driving a bases-clearing double to center field, scoring Pattillo, pinch-runner Maddie Russell, and Smith. Gronback then came through with an RBI double to left-center field, bringing home Grube. 

Reed recorded a 1-2-3 top of the fifth inning for the Dutchmen with a frame that included two flyouts to Smith in center field and a flyout to Pattillo in left field. Reed also retired the Cougars in order in the top of the sixth, tallying a foul out to Kratz at third base, a popout to Heard at shortstop, and a flyout to Smith in center field. Lebanon Valley then secured its 8-1 victory in the top of the seventh inning, as Reed retired the side in order again with a groundout to Kratz at third base, a flyout to Mackenzie Willey in right field, and a lineout to Grube at second base. 

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley earned its fourth straight trip to the conference Championship round. 
• The Dutchmen outhit the Cougars 9-4. 
• Grube recorded a game-high three hits with a season-high two doubles to match a game-high, tying a season-high in base hits and extending her hitting streak to nine games. The first-year also had a game-high and season-high four RBIs, marking her fourth straight game knocking in a run. Grube also crossed the plate once. 
• Kratz hit her third home run of the season and tied a season-high two RBIs. The junior also drew a walk. 
• Gronback tied a game-high and career-high two doubles while driving in two runs and scoring a run. 
• Pattilo picked up two hits to extend her hitting streak to 11, marking her fourth consecutive contest with a pair of base hits. The senior also walked, tied a game-high and career-high two runs scored, and stole a game-high two bases to tie a season-high. 
• Smith walked and stole a base while tying a game-high and season-high two runs scored.
• Reed improved her record to 11-4 this season, striking out four batters in a complete-game effort. 
• Heard drew a game-high two walks to tie a career-high. 
• Russell scored a run. 
• Willey tallied a base hit. 
• Bella Mackison drew a walk. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will take on the Cougars in the Championship round of the MAC Freedom Championship at 11 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, May 3, at the LVC Softball Park. Lebanon Valley will need just one victory to win the MAC Freedom Championship on Saturday, while Misericordia will need two victories to claim the title.

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