CENTER VALLEY, Pa. ­­– The Lebanon Valley College softball team concluded the regular season with a pair of wins, delivering 4-1 and 1-0 victories to earn a doubleheader sweep of DeSales University on Sunday, April 26, at McGettigan Park.

Game One 
The Dutchmen (22-15, 9-4 MAC Freedom) got a runner into scoring position in the top of the first inning, as Maddy Gronback hit a two-out double to right-center field. Starting pitcher Abby Reed then tossed a 1-2-3 inning for Lebanon Valley, registering a groundout she fielded herself, a lineout to first baseman Nikki Sellers, and a flyout to center fielder Karena Justice. Reed also retired the Bulldogs (14-22, 3-10 MAC Freedom) in order in the bottom of the second, logging a flyout to right fielder Katie Muller, a flyout to shortstop Megan Heard, and a groundout that the pitcher fielded herself. 

DeSales opened the scoring in the bottom of the third inning, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI single. In the top of the fourth, the Flying Dutchmen got a runner on base with two outs when Bella Mackison drew a walk. Reed followed this with another zero for LVC in the bottom of the fourth, retiring the side in order with an unassisted groundout to Sellers at first base, a flyout to Justice in center field, and a popout to Holly Grube at second base. 

Lebanon Valley crossed the plate four times in the top of the fifth inning, claiming a 4-1 lead. The rally began with singles to shortstop by Kratz and Muller, putting runners on first and second base with one out. Justice then hit an RBI single to left-center field, driving in pinch runner Lauren Foster. Grube also came through with a two-run double down the right-field line, scoring Muller and Justice. Heard followed this with an RBI triple to left field, knocking in Grube. Reed pitched another scoreless frame for the Dutchmen in the bottom of the fifth, getting out of the inning with a lineout to Justice in center field to strand a runner at first base. 

Chrissy Ivers-Schultz entered the game to pitch for Lebanon Valley in the bottom of the sixth and began her relief outing with a shutout inning, picking up a strikeout in the process. Ivers then secured LVC's victory with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh inning, tallying a flyout to Justice in center field and two groundouts to Kratz at third base. 

Inside the Box Score

• Grube recorded a double, a game-high two RBIs, and a run scored. The sophomore's double marked her 17th of the year, breaking LVC's single-season program record for doubles. This record was previously held by Emily Johnson, who hit 16 doubles in 2016.
• Heard hit a triple and drove in a run. 
• Justice tallied a hit, an RBI, and a run scored. 
• Muller tied a game-high and season-high two hits, while scoring a run. 
• Foster scored a run.
• Gronback tied a game-high two hits with a double. 
• Kratz matched a game-high and season-high two hits. 
• Mackison drew a walk. 
• Lebanon Valley outhit DeSales 9-3.
• Reed earned her eighth win of the season, striking out a batter in five innings. 
• Ivers recorded her first career save, striking out a batter in two scoreless and hitless innings. 

Game Two 
Lebanon Valley (23-15, 10-4 MAC Freedom) got a runner on base in the top of the first inning, as Gronback hit a two-out single to shortstop. Miley Beachel then pitched a scoreless bottom of the first for the Flying Dutchmen, concluding the frame with a flyout to Justice in center field to leave a runner at second base. LVC also had a runner in scoring position in the top of the second, as Beachel hit a leadoff double to left field and advanced to third base on a flyout. In the bottom of the second, Beachel retired DeSales (14-23, 3-11 MAC Freedom) in order with a foul out to Kratz at third base, a groundout to Heard at shortstop, and a strikeout swinging. 

The Dutchmen generated some traffic on the bases in the top of the third inning, as Heard hit a two-out bunt single to third base before Gronback singled through the left side. Beachel followed this with a 1-2-3 bottom of the third, recording two more strikeouts in the process. Lebanon Valley also kept battling at the plate in the top of the fourth, as Sellers and Muller each hit two-out singles to right field. Beachel continued her strong start in the bottom of the fourth as well, logging the third out with a popout to Sellers at first base to strand a runner at first. 

The Flying Dutchmen had another runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth inning, as Grube led off with a single to center field and advanced to third base after a sacrifice bunt by Heard and a flyout. Beachel blanked the Bulldogs again in the bottom of the fifth, tallying the final out with a flyout to Muller in right field to leave a runner at second base. Lebanon Valley kept competing in the batter's box in the top of the sixth, as Sellers hit a single to center and Muller singled to shortstop with two outs. In the bottom of the sixth, Beachel posted a zero for LVC with three flyouts to each position in the outfield. 

The Dutchmen got on the board in the top of the seventh inning, taking a 1-0 lead over the Bulldogs. The rally began with a one-out walk by Heard, while a single to right field by Gronback put runners on the corners. Mackison then came through with a bunt RBI single to first base, scoring Heard. Beachel followed this by securing Lebanon Valley's win with a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh inning, recording a flyout to Muller in right field and two flyouts to Justice in center field. 

Inside the Box Score

• Mackison knocked in the go-ahead run with a bunt RBI single, while stealing a base. 
• Beachel improved her record to 9-4, striking out a game-high five batters during a complete-game shutout. At the plate, the first-year hit a double.
• Heard registered a hit, a walk, and a run scored. 
• Gronback logged a game-high three hits, tying a career-high. 
• Seller tied a career-high two base hits. 
• Muller matched a season-high two hits. 
• Grube picked up a base hit, extending her hitting streak to 12 games. 
• The Dutchmen outhit the Bulldogs 11-2.

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will begin postseason competition on Thursday, April 30, when the program will take on second-seeded FDU-Florham in its first matchup of the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Championship at Misericordia University's Anderson Field in Dallas, Pa.

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