Softball Falls to Lebanon Valley in Season-Opener, 5-2

THE BASICS 
Lebanon Valley College, 5 vs. Emmanuel College, 2

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (0-1, 0-0 GNAC)
Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen (2-1, 0-0 MAC)

Location: Auburndale, Fla. – Auburndale Softball SportsPlex Field 4

Date: Monday, March 6, 2023

THE LEAD – Lebanon Valley College scored five unanswered runs to erase an early deficit and defeat Emmanuel College, 5-2, Monday morning in Day 1 action of The Spring Games softball action in Auburndale, Fla.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Saints manufactured a run in the first as sophomore outfielder Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) led off with a hit by pitch on the first pitch of the inning, moving over to second on a sac bunt by senior outfielder Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.). Junior shortstop Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) drove in Chelak with an RBI single up the middle to give EC a quick 1-0 advantage.
• Emmanuel doubled-up the lead in the second again thanks to a free base to open the frame. Sophomore catcher Sammy Hayes (Braintree, Mass.) worked a walk to start things up and moved to third on a double down the left field line by sophomore second baseman Amanda Penney (Warwick, R.I.). Hayes made it 2-0 on an RBI groundout by Chelak.
• Lebanon Valley put up a crooked number in the fourth, plating three runs on five hits to jump ahead in the game, 3-2. First year Nicole Kratz (Bechtelsville, Pa.) got the Flying Dutchmen on the board with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 2-1 before sophomore Alden Partyka (Georgetown, Del.) delivered a clutch two-out, two-RBI single to right to give them their first lead of the morning. The go-ahead run was unearned as the Saints made two throwing errors in the inning.
• Emmanuel threatened in the fifth as Pacheco reached on a one-out walk forcing Lebanon Valley to make a pitching change. Junior Erin Sinatra (Colonia, N.J.) entered the game in relief of Alicia Gotts (Magnolia, N.J.) and threw a wild pitch on her first wind-up in the circle allowing Pacheco to move into scoring position. Sinatra settled down and retired the next two batters to get out of the inning with the tying run stranded in scoring position, preserving LVC's 3-2 cushion.
• The Flying Dutchmen added some insurance in the sixth with a two-RBI double from Partyk to chase EC starting pitcher Tianna Dawe (Lynn, Mass.) from the game and bump the LVC lead to 5-2. EC first year hurler Mackenzie Briggs (West Warwick, R.I.) came on in relief and got out of a bases loaded jam to keep the score in striking distance for EC heading into the late stages of the game but Sinatra closed the door on Emmanuel for the 5-2 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• 12 of the 13 hits for the Flying Dutchmen were singles in the victory.
• LVC shortstop Erin Pattillo (Chambersburg, Pa.) led the way with three hits, two runs scored and a walk.
• Partyka enjoyed a 2-for-2 day with four RBI and a walk.
• Gotts earned the win after the slow start working 4 and 1/3 innings and allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out one. Sinatra picked up the save working the final 2 and 2/3 innings, allowing no hits to go along with five strikeouts.
• Dawe suffered the loss, surrendering five runs (four earned) on 11 hits over 5 and 1/3 innings. Briggs was solid in relief allowing two hits over 1 and 2/3 innings with two K's and no runs allowed.
• Conti, Penney and Hayes were the only Saints to record hits in the loss. The hits for Penney and Hayes were the first of their collegiate careers.

UP NEXT

• Both teams return to action later today as the Saints take on Wheaton (Ill.) while Lebanon Valley faces Nebraska Wesleyan, both games scheduled to begin at 11:30 AM.