ANNVILLE, Pa. ­­– Megan Heard recorded four hits for the Lebanon Valley College softball team on Senior Day during the program's doubleheader against Misericordia University on Saturday, April 18, at the LVC Softball Park. LVC battled valiantly in both matchups, while dropping 5-1 and 3-1 decisions. 

The Flying Dutchmen recognized their four seniors before the first game of the twin bill, honoring Heard, Nikki Sellers, Maddy Gronback, and Nicole Kratz. 

Game One 
The Cougars (21-10, 9-2 MAC Freedom) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single. The Dutchmen (19-14, 8-3 MAC Freedom) generated some traffic on the bases in the bottom half of the first, as Holly Grube and Heard each drew a walk before advancing to second and third base on a sacrifice bunt by Miley Beachel. Misericordia then added a pair of runs in the top of the second, taking a 3-0 advantage on two RBI singles.

Chrissy Ivers-Schultz pitched a scoreless top of the third inning for Lebanon Valley, getting out of the frame with a foul out to Sellers near first base to strand a runner at first. The Flying Dutchmen continued to compete in the batter's box in the bottom of the third, as Heard hit a one-out single to left field and Beachel reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on first and second base. Ivers followed this by tossing a 1-2-3 top of the fourth, registering two popouts to Heard at shortstop and a foul out to Kratz near third base. 

The Cougars hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning, taking a 5-0 lead. The Dutchmen countered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, narrowing the score to 5-1. Grube got things started with a bunt single back to the pitcher, and Heard hit a single to left-center field. A groundout then advanced the runners to second and third base. This was followed by Gronback hitting a ball back to the pitcher and reaching base on a fielding error, which allowed Grube to cross the plate. 

Ivers posted a zero for Lebanon Valley in the top of the sixth, notching the final two outs of the inning with flyouts to center fielder Lauren Foster. The Flying Dutchmen got another runner on base in the bottom of the sixth, as Sellers drew a walk. Ivers blanked the opposition in the top of the seventh as well, recording the last out with a flyout to Foster in center field to strand a runner at first. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the game. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube tallied a base hit, a walk, and a run scored. In the pitching circle, the sophomore struck out a batter in 1.2 innings. 
• Heard tied a game-high two hits and walked once. 
• Sellers drew a walk. 
• Beachel logged a sacrifice bunt. 
• Gronback threw out a runner attempting to steal second base in the top of the sixth inning.

Game Two 
Misericordia (22-10, 10-2 MAC Freedom) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking a 3-0 lead on an RBI double, an RBI triple, and an RBI groundout. Lebanon Valley (19-15, 8-4 MAC Freedom) picked up its first hit in the bottom of the first, as Beachel hit a two-out single to left-center field. Abby Reed pitched a 1-2-3 top of the second for LVC, logging a flyout to center fielder Karena Justice, a groundout to Heard at shortstop, and a strikeout looking.  

The Dutchmen kept working to create traffic on the basepaths in the bottom of the second, as Kratz hit a single to shortstop and Ivers singled up the middle. The runners then advanced to second and third base on a flyout. In the top of the third inning, Reed retired the side in order with a flyout to Justice in left-center, a groundout to Kratz at third base, and a foul out to Sellers at first base. Lebanon Valley later got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, narrowing the score to 3-1. The club quickly had runners on second and third base, as Grube hit a double to left-center before Heard singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw. Bella Mackison then came through with a sacrifice fly to left field, knocking in Grube.

Reed posted a zero for the Flying Dutchmen in the top of the fourth, stranding a runner on first base by tallying a strikeout looking and a flyout to right fielder Katie Muller for the last two outs. Reed delivered a scoreless top of the fifth inning for LVC as well, picking up two strikeouts in the process. In the bottom of the fifth, Lebanon Valley got more runners on base when Grube hit a ball to third base and reached on an error, while Heard singled to left field and advanced to second on the throw. 

Reed blanked the Cougars again in the top of the sixth, getting out of the inning with a strikeout looking to leave a runner at first. The Dutchmen continued to compete in the batter's box in the bottom of the sixth, as Kratz hit a one-out double to left-center field and advanced to third on a groundout. Reed later retired the side in order in the top of the seventh inning, recording a flyout to Beachel in left-center field and two more strikeouts for LVC. Lebanon Valley proceeded to keep battling until the final out, as Gronback hit a pinch-hit double to right-center and the program loaded the bases with a single through the left side by Beachel and a walk for Mackison. Ultimately, the score was maintained through the end of the contest. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube hit a double, extending her hitting streak to eight games. The sophomore also crossed the plate once. 
• Mackison registered a walk and an RBI. 
• Kratz tied a game-high and season-high two hits.
• Heard matched a game-high two base hits as well.  
• Beachel also tied a game-high two hits.  
• Gronback hit a double. 
• Ivers picked up a base hit.
• Lebanon Valley outhit Misericordia 9-4. 
• Reed struck out a game-high and career-high eight batters. 

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will be back in action on Tuesday, April 21, when the team will travel to take on the University of Scranton at Magis Field in Scranton, Pa. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

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