DALLAS, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley softball team won its third consecutive Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom title on Sunday afternoon with a 14-0 five-inning victory over top-seed and host Misericordia University on Anderson Field in Dallas. The Dutchmen were led by tournament MVP
Miley Beachel, who threw a two-hit shutout in the five-inning victory.
The Dutchmen (26-15) used small ball and took advantage of defensive miscues by the Cougars (27-13) to score seven runs in the first two innings on just one hit. They put up multiple runs in every inning and used strong defense to back Beachel's arm in the circle. The first-year was named the MVP of the Championship after she went 2-0 with seven strikeouts in 12.0 innings pitched, and scored four runs with four hits, one RBI, and two stolen bases during the three games this weekend.
Misericordia put the first two batters of the game on base with a walk and a bloop single down the left field line. Beachel got out of the inning with a fly ball to
Karena Justice in center, and then a pair of fly balls to
Katie Muller in right.
Megan Heard was LVC's first base runner in the bottom of the inning as she drew a one-out walk. The senior stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Bella Mackison drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher, which was thrown away. Gronback scored as Beachel bunted the ball back to the pitcher, but the Cougar catcher was called for obstruction. Beachel and Mackison executed a double steal to put the Dutchmen up 3-0. Beachel came around to score on a
Nicole Kratz ground out to the pitcher before the Cougars got the final out of the inning to give LVC a four-run advantage.
Beachel put the Cougars down in order in the top of the second with two strikeouts. Justice drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the inning. She stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and then scored on an error.
Holly Grube walked and then stole second before Heard drew another walk. They executed a double steal to put runners on second and third.
Maddy Gronback had the team's first hit of the game as she knocked a ball through the left side to plate Grube. The catcher stole second before Mackison hit a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 7-0.
The Cougars put two runners on in the third inning on a walk and a bloop single to left. Beachel got the Cougars to hit the ball in the air as Heard, Justice, and
Lauren Foster made putouts to get out of the inning. Kratz led off the bottom of the inning with a hard-hit single right back up the middle.
Nikki Sellers bunted for a base hit to put runners on first and second as the Cougars made a call to the bullpen. Justice beat off a ball to third base and advanced to second on a throwing error as Kratz came around to score. Grube then knocked in Sellers with a groundout to second.
Beachel had another quick inning in the fourth as she put the Cougars down in order on nine pitches. Gronback led off the bottom of the inning with a single through the left side. Beachel and Kratz had back-to-back singles to score a run. Sellers knocked in a run as she reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop, where
Avery Eaton beat the throw to second. Muller doubled to left center to score a run, and then
Abby McElroy knocked in the final two runs of the game with a pinch-hit single down the right field line. Beachel closed out the win in the top of the fifth with a foul out to Kratz at third, a strikeout, and then a groundout to Grube at second.
Inside the Box
- LVC won its third consecutive MAC Freedom title. The Dutchmen have recorded shutouts in all three Championship games.
- Beachel struck out four and allowed just two hits in the circle. At the plate, she had one hit and scored twice.
- The Dutchmen stole six bases with Heard and Grube recording two each.
- Gronback had two hits, one run, and one RBI.
- Muller had a double, one run batted in, and scored one run while making three putouts in right field.
- Heard had two walks and scored twice
- Mackison knocked in two runs and scored a run.
- Kratz had two hits, two RBIs, and one run scored.
- Sellers had a hit and knocked in a run.
- The 14 runs were the most scored in a MAC Freedom title game since 2018 when Manhattanville defeated King's 19-6. The 14-run difference was the largest margin of victory in a MAC Freedom Championship game.
- LVC won its sixth conference title and will make its ninth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Up Next
The Dutchmen await word of where they will play in the NCAA Regionals that will start on May 14. The NCAA Selection Show is scheduled for next Monday, May 11th, at 11:00 a.m. ET on NCAA.com.
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