CLERMONT, Fla. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College softball team scored three runs in the top of the first inning, fueling the program's 4-2 victory over Swarthmore College on Saturday, March 7, at Legends Way Ballfields Field 2. LVC then dropped a hard-fought 6-1 contest to Calvin University in the second matchup, which closed out the team's spring break trip. 

Game One vs. Swarthmore
The Dutchmen quickly opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking an early 3-0 lead over the Garnet. The program got runners on first and second base with one out on a single up the middle by Megan Heard and a single to shortstop by Bella Mackison. Miley Beachel then hit an RBI double down the third-base line, plating Heard. Abby McElroy followed this with an RBI groundout to the second baseman up the middle, knocking in Mackison. Nikki Sellers capped off the big frame with an RBI single to right field, driving in Beachel. In the bottom of the first, Beachel pitched a scoreless inning for LVC and notched the third out with a strikeout looking to strand a runner at first base. 

The Flying Dutchmen got another runner on base in the top of the second, as Holly Grube hit a one-out single to right field. Beachel then posted another zero for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the second, and the first-year registered the last two outs with a strikeout swinging and a groundout to Mackison at third base to leave runners on first and second. LVC's lineup later recorded another two-out base hit in the top of the third inning, as McElroy singled up the middle. This was followed by Swarthmore getting on the board in the bottom of the third, narrowing the score to 3-1 on a sacrifice fly.

The Garnet added a tally with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning, trimming their deficit to 3-2. Lebanon Valley also kept working to generate offensive opportunities in the top of the fifth, as Grube walked before Heard reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base. Beachel then tossed a shutout frame for the Dutchmen in the bottom of the fifth, and the first-year got out of the frame with a big double play. LVC's lineup followed this by creating some traffic on the basepaths in the top of the sixth inning. Sellers came up to the plate with pinch runner Karena Justice on first base with one out, and the senior hit a single back to the pitcher, before an error on the play allowed the runners to advance to second and third base. 

Swarthmore loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, but Lebanon Valley got out of the frame unscathed with a lineout to Heard at shortstop. The Dutchmen then tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, extending their lead to 4-2. Grube started the rally with a two-out double to left-center field before advancing to third base on a wild pitch. Heard followed this with an RBI single to left field, scoring Grube. Abby Reed entered the game to pitch for LVC in the bottom of the seventh, and the sophomore delivered a scoreless frame to secure the team's win and earn a save. Reed secured the victory by logging the final two outs with a double play. 

Inside the Box Score

• Sellers tied a career-high two hits and drove in the game-winning run. 
• In the pitching circle, Beachel earned her first career win while striking out a game-high and season-high four batters. The first-year also hit a double, drove in a run, and crossed the plate once. 
• Heard tallied two hits, an RBI, a run scored, and a season-high two stolen bases. 
• Grube tied a season-high two hits with a double, while scoring a run and walking once. 
• McElroy registered a hit, an RBI, and her first career hit-by-pitch. 
• Mackison logged a base hit and a run scored. 
• Reed tallied her first save of the season by pitching a scoreless inning. 
• Lebanon Valley's lineup recorded nine hits. 

Game Two vs. Calvin
Reed was Lebanon Valley's starting pitcher in the second matchup, and the sophomore began the outing by blanking Calvin in the top of the first inning. Reed retired the side in order, recording a strikeout swinging and two groundouts to McElroy at second base. In the bottom of the first, the Flying Dutchmen got a runner into scoring position when Heard hit a one-out single to right field and advanced to second base on a groundout. This was followed by Reed pitching a 1-2-3 top of the second for LVC, tallying a groundout to Kratz at third base, an unassisted groundout to first baseman Madison Shiffer, and another groundout to Kratz. 

The Dutchmen created some more traffic on the bases in the bottom of the second, as Kratz walked and stole second base. The Knights then opened the scoring in the top of the third inning, taking a 3-0 lead on an error and an RBI single. Lebanon Valley countered with a run in the bottom of the third, narrowing its deficit to 3-1. Grube reached base on a fielder's choice and moved into scoring position by stealing second base. Mackison then reached on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Grube to cross the plate. 

Calvin added a run in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run down the left-field line, taking a 4-1 advantage. The Flying Dutchmen also kept battling at the plate in the bottom of the fourth, as Chrissy Ivers-Schultz hit a one-out single to left field and advanced to second base on the throw. Grube then pitched a shutout inning for LVC in the top of the fifth, getting out of the frame with a strikeout swinging. LVC also continued to create scoring chances in the bottom of the fifth, as Grube hit a triple to right field. 

The Knights tacked on a pair of runs with a two-run single in the top of the sixth inning, advancing the score to 6-1. The Dutchmen came through with another two-out hit in the bottom of the sixth, as Ivers-Schultz hit a single through the left side. Grube then blanked the opposition again in the top of the seventh inning, and the sophomore logged the third out for LVC on an unassisted groundout to Shiffer at first base to leave a runner at third. Lebanon Valley proceeded to battle until the final out, as Sydney Zeigler hit a two-out single to left field in the bottom of the seventh. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube hit a triple, extending her hitting streak to six games. The sophomore also stole a base and scored a run. In the pitching circle, Grube tied a game-high three strikeouts. 
• Ivers-Schultz tied a season-high two hits. 
• Zeigler tallied her first career hit. 
• Heard and Beachel each picked up a base hit.
• Kratz drew a walk and stole a base. 
• Aubrey Gahman walked for the first time in her career. 
• Mackison knocked in a run. The catcher also threw out a runner attempting to steal third base in the top of the fifth inning. 
• Lebanon Valley recorded six base hits. 
• Reed matched a game-high three strikeouts. 

Up Next 
The Dutchmen will return to action on Tuesday, March 17, at 3 p.m., when the team will host Moravian University for a doubleheader in its home opener at the LVC Softball Park. The first matchup is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. 

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