NINE-RUN FOURTH LIFTS LEBANON VALLEY OVER SOFTBALL, 11-3

LEESBURG, Fla. – After being held scoreless for three innings, Lebanon Valley exploded for 11 runs including a nine-run fourth to put away Emmanuel College, 11-3, Friday morning in Day 5 softball action at the NTC Spring Games. The Flying Dutchmen improve to 6-3 overall while the Saints drop to 3-6.

The EC bats were hot in the early goings collecting six hits over the first three innings and chasing the Lebanon Valley starter from the game after scoring three runs in the third to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Casey Sheehan (Medway, Mass.) got the inning started with an opposite field homer to make it 1-0. Sophomore designated player Ashely Skey (Brookline, N.H.) reached base for the second consecutive trip to the plate via a hit by pitch and was replaced on the base paths by freshman Kylie Sondermann (Battle Mountain, Nev.). The inning continued with a bunt single by senior first baseman Susie Kieselback (Wethersfield, Conn.) before senior third baseman Kara Madden (Silver Spring, Md.) delivered a two-RBI double to left center to make it 3-0. The extra base hit chased Lebanon Valley starting pitcher Tianna Yanoscak (Williamstown, Pa.) from the game as she gave way to freshman Maddie Abbot (Kimberton, Pa.). EC bunted Madden over to third but Abbot was able to strand her there retiring the side to keep the score at 3-0.

The Flying Dutchman responded with a nine-run fourth inning, shifting momentum with 10 hits in the inning. The first five batters reached base and scored to make it 5-3 before Emmanuel was able to retire an out. Senior left fielder Elaine Gross (Hummelstown, Pa.) delivered the knockout blow with a grand slam to center to make it 9-3.

Lebanon Valley put the game away with two runs in the fifth to put the eight-run rule in effect as Gross again connected on the big play, a double-RBI double down the left field line to account for the 11-3 final.

Gross finished the game going 3-for-4 with six RBI and two runs scored while senior centerfielder Sammy Bost (Eldersburg, Md.) also went 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI.

For the Saints, freshman shortstop Sydney Rogers (Southwick, Mass.), Sheehan and Kieselback all finished the game with two hits.

Abbot earned the win in relief and improves to 5-0 on the year while EC starting pitcher Jill Kilcoyne (Worcester, Mass.) suffered the loss to move to 1-3 overall on the spring break trip.

Emmanuel returns to action in its spring break finale later today when they take on Misericordia at 1:00 PM while Lebanon Valley concludes its trip with a contest vs. Drew University.