GRANTHAM, Pa. ­­– Abby McElroy, Holly Grube, and Bella Mackison each hit a home run for the Lebanon Valley College softball team, helping lead the program to a doubleheader sweep of Messiah University on Monday, April 13, at Starry Softball Field. LVC won the first game 13-4 and delivered a 10-6 victory in eight innings in the second matchup. Maddy Gronback played a key role as well, knocking in five runs during the second win. 

Game One 
The Dutchmen (16-13) generated some traffic on the bases in the top of the first inning, as both Miley Beachel and Gronback hit two-out singles through the left side. The Falcons (20-11) then opened the scoring in the bottom half of the first, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single. Messiah also added a run in the bottom of the second, taking a 2-0 advantage on an RBI groundout. 

Lebanon Valley kept competing in the batter's box in the top of the third inning, as Karena Justice singled back to the pitcher and Grube hit a single through the left side. Grube then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the third for the Flying Dutchmen, registering a strikeout swinging, a groundout to Mackison at third on a bunt, and another strikeout swinging. 

The Dutchmen got on the board with a big seven-run frame in the top of the fourth, taking a 7-2 lead. Beachel led off the inning with a single through the left side, and Gronback hit a double to left-center to put runners on second and third base with no outs. Mackison then lined an RBI single to center field and advanced to second on the throw, knocking in Beachel. Nikki Sellers followed this with an RBI single to right-center field, plating Gronback. The program went ahead when pinch hitter Nicole Kratz walked with the bases loaded, scoring Mackison. Grube also drove a two-run double to left-center and advanced to third base on the throw, bringing in Sellers and Katie Muller, while Justice scored on an error by the shortstop. Megan Heard came through with an RBI groundout to second base as well, allowing Grube to cross the plate. In the bottom of the fourth, Grube posted a zero for LVC and notched the third out with a groundout to Heard at shortstop to strand a runner at second base. 

Grube blanked Messiah in the bottom of the fifth inning, recording the final out with a groundout to Mackison at third base to leave a runner at first. The Falcons then crossed the plate once in the bottom of the sixth, narrowing the score to 7-3 on an RBI single. Lebanon Valley tacked on six runs in the top of the seventh, extending its lead to 13-3. Beachel led off the frame with a walk and stole second base, before a single to right field by Mackison put runners on the corners. Beachel then scored on a wild pitch, while an error on the play allowed pinch runner Lauren Foster to cross the plate as well. McElroy later drove a two-run home run over the left-field fence, plating Muller. Grube also launched a two-run homer over the right-field fence, knocking in Justice. 

Messiah countered with a run in the bottom of the seventh, narrowing the score to 13-4 on an RBI double. Lebanon Valley then sealed the win with a groundout to Mackison at third base, leaving runners on first and second base. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube tied a game-high and career-high three hits, while setting a game-high and matching a career-high with four RBIs. She also tied a game-high two runs scored. The sophomore hit her third home run of the season as well. In the pitching circle, Grube improved her record to 6-2 by striking out a game-high four batters in a complete-game effort. 
• McElroy hit a two-run home run for her first career homer. The sophomore's two RBIs also tied a career-high. 
• Mackison matched a game-high and career-high three hits, while driving in a run and scoring a run. 
• Beachel registered two hits, a walk, and a stolen base, while tying a game-high and season-high two runs scored. 
• Justice had a season-high two hits and tied a game-high and season-high two runs scored. 
• Muller recorded a hit and walk, while matching a game-high and career-high two runs scored. 
• Gronback picked up two hits while crossing the plate once.
• Sellers tallied a base hit, an RBI, and a run scored. 
• Heard and Kratz both had a walk and an RBI. 
• Foster scored a run. 
• Lebanon Valley outhit Messiah 15-9.

Game Two 
Lebanon Valley (17-13) created traffic on the basepaths in the top of the first inning, as Grube and Heard each drew a walk while Beachel hit a single through the right side. Messiah (20-12) then opened the scoring with a solo home run in the bottom of the first, taking a 1-0 lead. The Dutchmen also got a runner into scoring position in the top of the second, as Kratz hit a single to left field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Muller. Beachel followed this by pitching a 1-2-3 bottom of the second for LVC, logging two strikeouts in the process. 

The Flying Dutchmen got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, taking a 3-1 advantage. Grube led off with a double to center field and moved up to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Heard. Gronback then delivered an RBI double to right-center field, knocking in Grube. Mackison followed this by sending a two-run home run over the left-field fence, plating Gronback. The Falcons countered with an RBI single in the bottom of the third, trimming their deficit to 3-2. 

Beachel posted a zero for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the fourth, striking out the last two batters to strand a runner at second base. The Dutchmen tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning, going ahead 5-2. Heard got things started with a one-out walk before Beachel reached second on an error during a sacrifice bunt attempt, putting runners on second and third. Gronback then delivered a two-run triple to right-center field, driving in Heard and Beachel. Messiah responded with two RBI doubles in the bottom half of the fifth, narrowing the score to 5-4. The Falcons also scored on an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game at 5-5. 

Lebanon Valley continued to battle at the plate in the top of the seventh inning, as Mackison drew a one-out walk and got into scoring position by advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sellers. In the bottom of the seventh, Abby Reed pitched a scoreless frame for the Dutchmen to send the contest into extra innings. The sophomore retired the side in order with a groundout to Heard at shortstop, a lineout to Beachel in left field, and another groundout to Heard at shortstop. 

The Flying Dutchmen posted a five-run frame in the top of the eighth, claiming a 10-5 lead. Kratz began the extra inning on second base, and a bunt single back to the pitcher by Muller put runners on the corners. Kratz then scored on a wild pitch to put the team ahead. Beachel later came through with a two-run double to left-center field, driving in Muller and Reed. Gronback also hit a two-run double to left-center, bringing home Heard and Beachel. Messiah countered with an RBI groundout in the bottom of the eighth inning, making it a 10-6 game. This would stand as the final score, as Lebanon Valley secured its victory with a lineout to Kratz at third base. 

Inside the Box Score

• Gronback tied a career-high three hits with a game-high two doubles and a triple, while recording the 100th hit of her career with an RBI double in the top of the third. The senior also logged a game-high and career-high five RBIs while scoring a run. Additionally, Gronback matched a career-high in doubles. 
• Beachel tied a game-high two hits with a double, matched a season-high two RBIs, and tied a game-high and season-high two runs scored. In the pitching circle, the first-year also struck out a game-high four batters in 5.1 innings. 
• Mackison hit a two-run home run for her third homer of the year, while tying a career-high two walks. 
• Heard drew a game-high four walks, matching a career-high. The senior also tied a game-high two runs scored.
• In the pitching circle, Reed earned her fifth win of the season by pitching 2.2 innings without allowing an earned run. At the plate, the sophomore tallied a walk and a run scored.
• Kratz picked up two hits and scored a run. 
• Grube hit a double, tied a career-high two walks, stole a base, and scored a run.
• Muller had a hit and a run scored. 
• The Dutchmen outhit the Falcons 10-8. 

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will return to action on Thursday, April 16, when the program will travel to take on King's College in a doubleheader at the Betzler Athletic Complex in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The first game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. 

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