DOYLESTOWN, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College softball team extended its winning streak to five games, as key hits and strong pitching fueled the program's doubleheader sweep of Delaware Valley University on Saturday, April 11, at the DVU Softball Field. The Flying Dutchmen won the first matchup 6-1 and posted a 6-3 victory in the second contest. 

Game One 
The Dutchmen (14-13, 5-2 MAC Freedom) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking an early 3-0 lead over the Aggies (19-4, 4-5 MAC Freedom). Holly Grube led off the game with a single to left field and stole second base before crossing the plate on Megan Heard's RBI single to center. Maddy Gronback later stepped into the batter's box with runners on second and third, and the senior hit a two-run single to right-center to drive in Heard and Miley Beachel. Abby Reed then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the first for LVC, registering a flyout to Beachel in left field, a strikeout swinging, and a groundout to Heard at shortstop. 

Reed also tossed a scoreless bottom of the second for the Flying Dutchmen, getting out of the frame with a flyout to Beachel in left to strand a runner at second. Reed blanked Delaware Valley in the bottom of the third inning as well, picking up a strikeout for Lebanon Valley in the process.

The Dutchmen added three more runs in the top of the fourth, taking a 6-0 advantage. Beachel came up to the plate with runners on second and third base with no outs, and the first-year delivered a bunt RBI single to third base to bring home Grube. Later in the inning, Bella Mackison bunted an RBI single back to the pitcher to knock in Heard. Beachel also scored a run on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the fourth, Reed retired the side in order with a flyout to center fielder Avery Eaton, a flyout to right fielder Katie Muller, and a lineout to Heard at shortstop. Reed followed this by posting a zero for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the fifth inning, notching the third out with a fielder's choice. 

Reed continued her strong start for the Flying Dutchmen in the bottom of the sixth, tallying the third out of the frame with a popout to Heard at shortstop to leave a runner at first. The Aggies got on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning, narrowing the score to 6-1 on an RBI single. Reed then recorded the final out of the game with a flyout to Muller in right field, securing LVC's victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube recorded a game-high three hits, tying a career-high. The sophomore also matched a game-high two runs scored and stole a game-high two bases. 
• Heard tallied a hit and an RBI, while tying a game-high two runs scored. The senior's second run scored of the game marked the 100th of her career. Additionally, Heard had a game-high and career-high two hit-by-pitches, as well as a stolen base.
• Beachel logged a hit and an RBI, while tying a game-high and season-high two runs scored. The first-year also reached base on a hit-by-pitch and stole a base. 
• Gronback picked up a base hit and a game-high two RBIs. 
• Mackison registered a hit, an RBI, and her first career stolen base. 
• Nikki Sellers tied a career-high with two hits, including a double.
• Muller had a base hit as well.  
• Lebanon Valley outhit Delaware Valley 10-8.
• Reed earned her fourth win of the year in the pitching circle, striking out three batters without allowing an earned run in seven innings. 

Game Two 
Beachel started in the pitching circle for Lebanon Valley (15-13, 6-2 MAC Freedom), and the first-year began the contest with a scoreless bottom of the first inning against Delaware Valley (19-5, 4-6 MAC Freedom). Beachel struck out two batters during the frame and notched the third out with a fielder's choice. The Dutchmen then generated some traffic on the bases in the top of the second with two outs, as Sellers singled to right field and Muller hit a double to left field. In the bottom half of the second, Beachel posted a zero for LVC and got out of the inning with a lineout to third baseman Nicole Kratz. 

The Flying Dutchmen struck first in the top of the third inning, taking a 2-0 lead. Grube got things started with a one-out single up the middle before advancing to second base on a wild pitch. Beachel then hit a two-out RBI double to left-center field, driving in Grube. Gronback followed this with an RBI single through the right side and advanced to second on the throw, while Beachel scored on the play. Beachel also blanked the Aggies in the bottom of the third, and the first-year left a runner on third base after logging the third out with a lineout to Heard at shortstop. 

Beachel tossed a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth for Lebanon Valley, registering an unassisted groundout to Sellers at first base and two strikeouts looking. The Dutchmen also added another run in the top of the fifth inning, going up 3-0. Gronback started the rally with a two-out double to right-center field before scoring on Mackison's RBI double to left-center. The Aggies then got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, making it a 3-1 contest on a bunt RBI single. Delaware Valley crossed the plate again in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI single, trimming its deficit to 3-2.

Lebanon Valley answered back with three runs in the top of the seventh inning, extending its lead to 6-2. The program had runners on second and third base with one out, following a single up the middle by Heard and a double to right field by Beachel. Gronback and Mackison then each came through with an RBI fielder's choice, scoring Heard and Beachel, respectively. Muller also recorded an RBI groundout to second base, allowing Gronback to cross the plate. The Aggies responded with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, making it a 6-3 game. Grube then notched the final out of LVC's win with a strikeout swinging to strand runners on the corners, earning a save.

Inside the Box Score

• Beachel recorded a game-high and season-high two doubles, while knocking in a run and scoring a game-high two runs. The first-year also tied a season-high in runs scored. In the pitching circle, Beachel improved her record to 6-4 by matching a game-high four strikeouts in 6.1 innings. 
• Gronback registered two hits with a double, tied a game-high two RBIs, and scored a run. 
• Heard tallied two hits, extending her hitting streak to nine games. The senior also scored a run. 
• Grube had a base hit and a run scored. In the pitching circle, the sophomore also earned her first save of the season by retiring the final two batters and picking up a strikeout. 
• Mackison hit a double and matched a game-high two RBIs. 
• Muller hit a double and drove in a run.
• Gahman crossed the plate once. 
• Sellers logged a base hit and a hit-by-pitch. 
• Eaton picked up a hit. 
• The Dutchmen outhit the Aggies 11-10.

Up Next 
The Flying Dutchmen will be back in action on Monday, April 13, when the team will travel to take on Messiah University for a doubleheader at Starry Softball Field in Grantham, Pa. The first matchup is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

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