READING, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College softball team scored 16 runs on 28 hits while posting two strong pitching performances, propelling the program to a doubleheader sweep of Alvernia University on Wednesday, March 25, at Angelica Park. LVC won the first matchup 8-3 before taking the second contest by a score of 8-2.

Game One
The Dutchmen (5-10) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead over the Golden Wolves (8-9). Megan Heard got things started with a one-out single through the left side, before crossing the plate on Nicole Kratz's RBI double to right field. Miley Beachel then pitched a scoreless bottom of the first for LVC, notching the final two outs with a double play.

Lebanon Valley added four runs in the top of the second, extending its advantage to 5-0. The rally began when Nikki Sellers and Karena Justice each hit a single up the middle and Katie Muller drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Holly Grube then came through with an RBI single through the left side, knocking in Sellers. Heard followed this with a two-run single to center field, plating Justice and Muller. Heard also stole second base before scoring Beachel's RBI triple down the right-field line. Beachel then posted a zero for the Flying Dutchmen in the bottom of the second, recording the third out with a strikeout swinging to leave runners on first and second base.

The Dutchmen crossed the plate again in the top of the third inning, going up 6-0. The program quickly had runners on first and second base with no outs, as Bella Mackison led off with a single through the left side and Sellers singled up the middle. Sydney Zeigler then hit an RBI single down the left-field line, bringing in Mackison. Alvernia countered with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the third, narrowing the score to 6-2.

Beachel pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth inning for Lebanon Valley, registering two popouts to Heard at shortstop and a strikeout swinging. The first-year continued her strong start for LVC in the bottom of the fifth, blanking the opposition and getting out of the frame with a popout to Heard at shortstop to strand a runner at first base. The Flying Dutchmen then put another tally on the board in the top of the sixth inning, extending their lead to 7-2. Grube hit a double to center field and scored when Heard hit an RBI single to left field.

Beachel delivered a shutout frame for LVC in the bottom of the sixth, securing the final out of the frame with a groundout to Heard at shortstop to leave a runner at first base. Lebanon Valley tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, going ahead 8-2. Mackison got on base with a single to right field, before pinch runner Avery Eaton stole second base and moved up to third on a groundout. Pinch hitter Maddy Gronback then hit an RBI single to left field, knocking in Eaton. The Golden Wolves countered with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, making it an 8-3 contest. The Dutchmen later sealed the victory with a flyout to Zeigler down the left-field line.

Inside the Box Score

• Heard tied a game-high and season-high three hits while setting a game-high and matching a career-high with three RBIs. The senior also stole a base and tied a game-high two runs scored.
• Grube tied a game-high and career-high three hits, while driving in a run, stealing a base, and scoring a run.
• Kratz's RBI double in the top of the first inning marked her 100th career base hit. The senior is the 27th player in program history to record 100 career hits for LVC.
• Beachel earned her third victory of the season in the pitching circle, striking out four batters in a complete-game effort. At the plate, the first-year hit her first career triple and drove in a run.
• Mackison tied a career-high two hits and scored a run.
• Sellers also matched a career-high two hits and crossed the plate once.
• Justice tallied her first career hit and first career run scored, while stealing a base.
• Gronback picked up a hit and drove in a run.
• Zeigler logged a base hit and an RBI.
• Muller drew a walk and scored a run.
• Eaton stole a base and crossed the plate once.
• Lebanon Valley outhit Alvernia 15-8.

Game Two
Lebanon Valley (6-10) struck first in the top of the first inning, taking an early 2-0 lead over Alvernia (8-10). The team quickly got runners on second and third base, as Grube singled up the middle and stole second base before Heard singled up the middle and also stole second. Gronback then hit a two-run single through the right side, scoring Grube and Heard. In the bottom of the first, Grube pitched a scoreless frame for LVC by retiring the side in order with a groundout to second baseman Abby McElroy, a strikeout looking, and another groundout to McElroy.

The Dutchmen added two more runs in the top of the second, extending their advantage to 4-0. Madison Shiffer led off the frame with a hit-by-pitch and Justice walked, before the runners advanced to second and third base on a sacrifice bunt by Zeigler. Grube then delivered a two-run double up the middle, driving Shiffer and Justice. Grube also tossed a shutout frame for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the second, getting out of the inning with a groundout to McElroy at second base to strand runners on first and second base.

Grube blanked the Golden Wolves in the bottom of the third inning as well, notching the final out with a foul out to Shiffer near first base to strand a runner on third. The Flying Dutchmen tacked on three runs in the top of the fourth inning, going ahead 7-0. Grube led off with a single to right field and stole second base while Heard singled up the middle and swiped second, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Beachel then hit a two-run double down the left-field line, bringing home Grube and Heard. Later in the frame, Gronback hit an RBI double down the left-field line to knock in Beachel. In the bottom of the fourth, Grube pitched a 1-2-3 inning for LVC with two groundouts to Heard at shortstop and a strikeout looking.

Grube continued her strong start for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning, posting a zero and notching the final two outs with a double play. The sophomore also retired the side in order in the bottom half of the sixth, registering two more strikeouts for the Dutchmen in the process.

In the top of the seventh inning, Lebanon Valley scored another run to go up 8-0. Justice led off the frame with a single down the left-field line and advanced to third base after a passed ball and a wild pitch. Heard then came through with an RBI single to left-center field, plating Justice. Alvernia followed this with a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh, narrowing the score to 8-2. Ultimately, LVC secured the victory with a groundout to McElroy at second base to leave runners on first and second base.

Inside the Box Score

• The win marked Lebanon Valley's fourth consecutive victory.
• Grube tied a game-high and career-high three hits while tying a career-high two runs scored and matching a season-high two RBIs. The sophomore also set a career-high and tied a game-high with three stolen bases. In the pitching circle, Grube earned her second win of the campaign by striking out a game-high and career-high seven batters.
• Gronback recorded two hits with a double while knocking in a game-high and season-high three runs.
• Heard matched a game-high and season-high three hits, tied a game-high two runs scored, and matched a game-high and season-high three stolen bases. The senior also drove in a run and walked once.
• Beachel hit a double and drove in a season-high two runs while crossing the plate once.
• Justice registered a hit and her first career walk, while tying a game-high and season-high two runs scored.
• Shiffer logged a walk and her first career hit-by-pitch while scoring a run.
• Kratz, Mackison, and McElroy each tallied a base hit.
• Megan Ferenchak walked for the first time in her career.
• The Dutchmen outhit the Golden Wolves 13-4.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will be back in action on Saturday, March 28, when the program will travel to take on FDU-Florham in a doubleheader at McManus Field in Madison, N.J.

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