WILKES-BARRE, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College softball team clinched a spot in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championship with a doubleheader sweep of King's College on Thursday, April 16, at the Betzler Athletic Complex. The Flying Dutchmen delivered a 10-1 run-rule victory in five innings during the first matchup and won the second contest 4-0. 

Game One 
The Monarchs (11-20, 3-6 MAC Freedom) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, taking an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single. The Dutchmen (18-13, 7-2 MAC Freedom) answered right back in the top of the second, taking a 3-1 advantage. Bella Mackison got things started with a one-out walk and stole second base, before Nikki Sellers hit a single to left field to put runners on the corners. Nicole Kratz then came through with an RBI single to right field, knocking in Mackison. Katie Muller followed this by hitting a ball to right field and reaching base on an error, which allowed Kratz to score. Muller also advanced to second on the throw. Karena Justice followed this by hitting a ball back to the pitching circle and reaching base on a throwing error by the pitcher and advancing to second on the play, plating Muller.

Abby Reed then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the second for Lebanon Valley, recording a foul out to left fielder Miley Beachel, a popout to second baseman Holly Grube, and a strikeout looking. The Flying Dutchmen then added a run in the top of the third inning, taking a 4-1 lead. Maddy Gronback hit a two-out single to center field and scored on Mackison's RBI double to center field. Reed posted another zero for LVC in the bottom of the third, retiring the side in order with a groundout to shortstop Megan Heard, a lineout to Justice in center field, and a popout to Grube at second base.

Lebanon Valley crossed the plate again in the top of the fourth, going up 5-1. Justice got on base with a fielder's choice before stealing second base and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Grube then lined an RBI double down the left-field line and advanced to third base on a throwing error by the left fielder, plating Justice. Reed followed this by blanking King's in the bottom half of the fourth, getting out of the frame with a double play. 

The Dutchmen tacked on five insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning, extending their lead to 10-1. The program quickly loaded the bases with a walk by Beachel, a single through the left side by Gronback, and a walk by Mackison. Sellers then delivered an RBI single to right field, driving in Beachel. Kratz followed this with a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing home Mackison. Muller also hit a sacrifice fly to center, knocking in Mackison. Grube later hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Sellers. LVC tallied its 10th run on an RBI single to right field by Heard, plating Justice. In the bottom of the fifth, Reed secured Lebanon Valley's run-rule victory with a scoreless inning. The club notched the final out when Reed fielded a groundout herself, leaving a runner at second base. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube tied a game-high two hits with a game-high two doubles, matching a career-high. The sophomore also tied a game-high two RBIs.
• Mackison hit a double, knocked in a run, drew a game-high two walks, and tied a game-high and season-high two runs. The sophomore also matched a career-high in walks. Additionally, Mackison stole a base. 
• Sellers tied a game-high and career-high two hits, while tallying an RBI and a run scored. 
• Kratz picked up a hit, matched a game-high and season-high two RBIs, and scored a run.
• Heard matched a game-high two hits and drove in a run. 
• Gronback tied a game-high two hits and matched a game-high two runs scored, tying her career-high in runs. 
• Muller registered a base hit, an RBI, and a run scored. 
• Justice had a walk and a stolen base, while tying a game-high and season-high two runs scored.
• Beachel drew a walk and crossed the plate once. 
• Lebanon Valley outhit King's 11-3.
• Reed earned her sixth win of the season, striking out a game-high two batters in five innings. 

Game Two 
Lebanon Valley (19-13, 8-2 MAC Freedom) struck first in the top of the first inning, taking an early 2-0 lead over King's (11-21, 3-7 MAC Freedom). Grube led off the contest with a triple to left-center field and quickly scored on Heard's RBI single up the middle. Heard later advanced to third base and crossed the plate when Beachel hit an RBI single through the left side. In the bottom of the first, Beachel pitched a scoreless frame for the Flying Dutchmen and stranded a runner at second base by notching the third out with a flyout to center fielder Lauren Foster. Beachel blanked the opposition in the bottom of the second as well, getting out of the inning with a fielder's choice. 

The Dutchmen kept battling at the plate in the top of the third inning, as Gronback hit a two-out single to center field. Beachel then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the third for LVC, logging a flyout to Foster in center field, an unassisted groundout to Sellers at first base, and a groundout that the pitcher fielded herself. In the top of the fourth, Lebanon Valley registered another two-out hit with Muller's single to second base. Beachel also retired the Monarchs in order in the bottom of the fourth, recording a groundout to Heard at shortstop, a popout to Heard, and a strikeout swinging.

Beachel tossed another scoreless frame for the Flying Dutchmen in the bottom of the fifth inning, tallying a double play and a popout to Mackison at third base. Lebanon Valley then added a run in the top of the sixth, going ahead 3-0 when Kratz launched a two-out solo home run over the left-field fence. This was followed by Beachel pitching a shutout inning for LVC in the bottom of the sixth, getting out of the frame when Gronback threw from behind the plate to Sellers at first base to pick off a runner for the third out.

The Dutchmen tacked on a run in the top of the seventh inning, extending their lead to 4-0. Grube got into scoring position with a one-out triple to left-center field and scored on Heard's bunt RBI single back to the pitcher. Beachel then secured LVC's second victory of the day by blanking King's in the bottom of the seventh. The program recorded the final out with a popout to Grube at second, leaving runners on first and second base.

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley earned a spot in the conference tournament and extended its winning streak to nine games. 
• Kratz hit a solo home run for her second homer of the season. 
• Heard matched a game-high two hits, drove in a game-high two runs, and crossed the plate once. 
• Beachel improved her record to 7-4 this season, striking out a batter during a complete-game shutout. At the plate, the first-year tallied a base hit and an RBI. 
• Grube tied a game-high two hits with a game-high and career-high two triples. The sophomore also scored a game-high two runs. 
• Gronback picked up a base hit, extending her hitting streak to 14 games. 
• Muller registered a hit, advancing her hitting streak to eight games.
• Justice walked once. 
• The Dutchmen outhit the Monarchs 8-2. 

Up Next 
The Dutchmen will return to action on Saturday, April 18, when the program will host Misericordia University for Senior Day at the LVC Softball Park. The first matchup is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.

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