SCRANTON, Pa. ­­– Holly Grube recorded six hits and three RBIs for the Lebanon Valley College softball team, helping lead the program to a doubleheader sweep of the University of Scranton on Tuesday, April 21, at Magis Field. The Flying Dutchmen won the first matchup 9-5, while Grube knocked in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning to propel the team to a 3-2 victory in the second matchup. 

Game One 
The Dutchmen (20-15) opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, taking an early 3-0 lead over the Royals (16-16). The program quickly had runners on second and third base with no outs, as Grube led off with a double to center field and Megan Heard drew a walk, before the runners executed a double steal. Maddy Gronback then hit a two-run double to left field, knocking in Grube and Heard. Later in the frame, Katie Muller delivered an RBI single to left field to drive in Gronback. Miley Beachel then pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the first for LVC, registering a strikeout swinging and two groundouts to Grube at second base. 

Lebanon Valley got more runners into scoring position in the top of the second, as Grube and Heard each singled with one out before Heard stole second base to put runners on second and third. Beachel also posted a zero for the Flying Dutchmen in the bottom of the second, retiring the side in order with a flyout to Muller down the right-field line, a strikeout swinging, and a flyout to left fielder Sydney Zeigler. Scranton later hit a two-run double in the bottom of the third inning, narrowing the score to 3-2.

The Dutchmen added another tally in the top of the fourth, taking a 4-2 advantage. The team loaded the bases after Zeigler singled and stole second base, Grube reached on an error and stole second, and Heard drew a walk. Gronback then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Zeigler. In the bottom of the fourth, Beachel retired the side in order again and notched the third out with a strikeout swinging. Lebanon Valley tacked on three runs in the top of the fifth inning, extending its lead to 7-2. The program had runners on second and third with no outs, as Muller walked and Madison Shiffer singled to right field before pinch runner Karena Justice stole second base. Megan Ferenchak then hit a two-run double to left-center field, bringing home Muller and Justice. Grube also came through with an RBI double to left-center, scoring Ferenchak. The Royals responded with an RBI single and a two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, trimming their deficit to 7-5.

The Flying Dutchmen answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, going up 9-5. Beachel led off with a walk and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Muller, while a single to left field by Muller put runners of the corners. Ferenchak then reached base on an RBI fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt attempt, allowing Beachel to cross the plate. Grube later hit an RBI single through the right side, knocking in Shiffer. Abby Reed entered the game to pitch for LVC in the bottom of the sixth and began her relief appearance with a scoreless inning. The sophomore got out of the frame with a lineout to Heard at shortstop to strand runners at first and second. Reed also kept Scranton from scoring in the bottom of the seventh, sealing LVC's win with a flyout to Muller in right field to leave runners at the corners. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube recorded a game-high and a career-high four hits, while hitting a game-high two doubles to tie a career-high. The sophomore's second double marked her 16th double of the year, tying Emily Johnson for the single-season program record. Grube also drove in two runs, matched a game-high and career-high three stolen bases, and scored a run.
• Gronback logged two hits with a double, three RBIs, and a run scored. 
• Heard tallied a hit, tied a game-high two walks, matched a game-high and season-high three stolen bases, and scored a run. 
• Beachel improved her record to 8-4 this season, striking out a game-high four batters in five innings. At the plate, the first-year registered a hit, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, a season-high two stolen bases, and a run scored. 
• Ferenchak tallied her first career double, the first three RBIs of her career, and a run scored.
• Muller tied a season-high two hits, matched a game-high and career-high two walks, knocked in a run, and crossed the plate once. The junior also stole a base.
• Shiffer recorded a season-high three hits and scored a run. 
• Zeigler picked up a hit, stole a base, and scored a run.
• Justice stole a base and crossed the plate once. 
• Lebanon Valley outhit Scranton 15-8.
• The Dutchmen stole a season-high 11 bases. 
• Reed struck out a batter in two scoreless innings.

Game Two 
Lebanon Valley (21-15) got a runner into scoring position in the top of the first inning, as Grube led off with a single to right-center field and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Heard. Scranton (16-17) then opened the scoring in the bottom half of the first, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI groundout. Grube later pitched a scoreless bottom of the second for the Flying Dutchmen, picking up a strikeout for the third out.

The Dutchmen continued to battle at the plate in the top of the third inning, as Grube hit a two-out single to right-center field. The Royals then added a tally in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 2-0 advantage and an RBI groundout. Lebanon Valley answered back with two runs in the top of the fourth, tying the game at 2-2. Gronback led off the inning with a triple to center field and crossed the dish on an RBI groundout to second base by Beachel. The team later evened the score when Nicole Kratz hit an RBI single to left field, scoring Nikki Sellers from first base.

Grube posted a zero for LVC in the bottom of the fourth, getting out of the frame with a lineout to Sellers at first base to leave runners at first and second. Grube also pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth for the Dutchmen, registering a groundout to Kratz at third base, a groundout to Heard at shortstop, and a lineout to Sellers at first base. Reed entered the game to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the sixth when Scranton had a runner on first with no outs, and the sophomore blanked the opposition. LVC got out of the inning with a flyout to Beachel in left field, stranding a runner at second base. 

Reed also posted a zero for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the seventh inning, recording a strikeout swinging for the third out to strand the bases loaded. This prompted the game to enter extra innings. The Dutchmen crossed the plate in the top of the eighth, taking a 3-2 lead. Chrissy Ivers-Schultz began the inning on second base and quickly advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Reed. Grube then hit a sacrifice fly to center, and Ivers scored on interference. In the bottom of the eighth, Reed closed out Lebanon Valley's victory with a shutout inning. The program secured its second win of the day with a flyout to Beachel in left field, leaving a runner at third base. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube recorded two base hits, extending her hitting streak to 10 games. The sophomore also drove in the go-ahead run. In the pitching circle, Grube struck out two batters in five innings. 
• Reed earned her seventh win of the season, striking out four batters in three scoreless innings. 
• Gronback tallied two hits with a triple and crossed the plate once. 
• Ivers scored the go-ahead run, marking her first career run scored. 
• Kratz hit an RBI double. 
• Sellers picked up a base hit and scored a run. 
• Beachel registered an RBI.
• Lebanon Valley won its last seven non-conference games.

Up Next 
The Flying Dutchmen are scheduled to close out the regular season on Saturday, April 25, when the program will travel to take on DeSales University at McGettigan Park in Center Valley, Pa. The first matchup will begin at 1 p.m. 

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