MADISON, N.J. ­­– Nikki Sellers hit her first career home run for the Lebanon Valley College softball team in the first game of a doubleheader against FDU-Florham, while Nicole Kratz also homered in the second matchup on Sunday, March 29, at McManus Field. LVC battled valiantly in the twin bill, while dropping an 8-7 decision and a 4-2 contest.  

Game One 
The Dutchmen opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead. Holly Grube led off the game with a single to center field and stole second base, while Megan Heard drew a walk. Grube and Heard then executed a double steal, putting runners on second and third. Maddy Gronback followed this with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing in Grube. Starting pitcher Abby Reed then posted a zero for LVC in the bottom of the first, getting out of the frame with a double play. 

FDU-Florham got on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run, tying the contest at 1-1. Lebanon Valley responded with a run in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-1 advantage. Miley Beachel started a two-out rally with a walk and crossed the plate on Gronback's RBI double to center field. The Devils then scored five runs in the bottom half of the third, going up 6-2 on two RBI doubles, an RBI single, and a two-run single.

The Flying Dutchmen answered back with three runs in the top of the fourth inning, narrowing their deficit to 6-5. Kratz led off the frame with a walk before Sellers drove a two-run home run over the left-field fence. Later in the inning, Beachel came up to the plate with runners on first and second base, and the first-year hit a two-out RBI single to left field to knock in Sydney Zeigler. Chrissy Ivers-Schultz followed this by tossing a scoreless bottom of the fourth for LVC, notching the third out with a strikeout swinging to strand a runner at first base. 

The Devils added two tallies in the bottom of the fifth, taking an 8-5 lead on a solo home run and an RBI triple. Lebanon Valley also continued to battle in the batter's box in the top of the sixth inning, making it an 8-7 game. The team loaded the bases after Zeigler reached second base on an error by the first baseman, Grube hit a single to shortstop, and Heard walked. Beachel then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Zeigler. Later in the frame, Kratz came through with an RBI single to left field to plate Grube.

Ivers also blanked the opposition in the bottom of the sixth, registering the third out with a strikeout swinging to leave runners at first and second base. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Sellers tied a career-high two hits with her first career home run and a double, while tying a game-high and career-high two RBIs. The senior also drew a walk and stole a base. 
• Beachel logged a hit, drew a walk, tied a game-high and season-high two RBIs, and scored a run. 
• Gronback hit a double, tied a game-high two RBIs, and walked once.
• Grube recorded a game-high three hits, tying a career-high. The sophomore also matched a career-high two runs scored while stealing a game-high two bases. 
• Kratz registered a hit, a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. 
• Zeigler picked up a base hit and scored a season-high two runs. 
• Heard tallied a game-high and career-high four walks and a stolen base. 
• Ivers tied a game-high three strikeouts, setting a season-high. 

Game Two 
Lebanon Valley generated some traffic on the basepaths in the top of the first inning, as Heard singled down the right-field line, Beachel hit a single through the right side, and Gronback drew a walk. Beachel then pitched a scoreless bottom of the first for the LVC, retiring FDU-Florham in order with a strikeout swinging, a groundout to Heard at shortstop, and a lineout to Heard. 

The Dutchmen opened the scoring in the top of the second, taking a 1-0 lead on Kratz's solo home run to left field. Beachel followed this by posting a zero for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the second. The first-year notched the final two outs with a strikeout swinging and a groundout that the pitcher herself, leaving runners on second and third base. 

The Flying Dutchmen crossed the plate again in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-0 lead. The club loaded the bases after Heard hit a single to right-center field and stole second base, Gronback walked, and Sellers hit a single to third base. Kratz then hit a fly ball to the second baseman that was called an out on the infield fly rule, which allowed Heard to score. In the bottom of the third, Beachel tossed a 1-2-3 inning for LVC and recorded the third out with a foul out to Zeigler down the left-field line. The Devils then got on the board in the bottom half of the fourth, narrowing the score to 2-1 on an RBI single.

FDU-Florham later hit a three-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning, taking a 4-2 advantage. Lebanon Valley also continued to compete in the batter's box as the contest progressed, as Bella Mackison drew a leadoff walk in the top of the sixth inning. Beachel then delivered another shutout frame for LVC in the bottom of the sixth, retiring the side in order with a groundout to Kratz at third base, a groundout to Grube at second base, and a groundout that the pitcher fielded herself. 

The Dutchmen kept battling until the final out, as Grube led off the top of the seventh inning with a single to left-center field. The sophomore also advanced to second base on the play. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Kratz launched a solo home run for her first homer of the season. 
• Heard tied a game-high two hits, stole a base, and scored a run. 
• Beachel registered a base hit and a walk. In the pitching circle, the first-year struck out three batters in six innings. 
• Gronback drew a game-high two walks, tying a career-high. 
• Mackison had a hit and a walk. 
• Grube and Sellers each tallied a base hit. 
• Avery Eaton stole a base.
• Abby McElroy walked once. 
• Lebanon Valley and FDU-Florham each recorded seven hits. 

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will return to action tomorrow, Monday, March 30, when the program will host Lycoming College for a doubleheader at the LVC Softball Park. The first matchup is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.