Story Courtesy of Lebanon Valley Athletics

DALLAS, Pa. – Miley Beachel pitched a four-hit complete game gem, and Nicole Kratz hit a leadoff home run in the sixth inning to lead the Lebanon Valley softball team to a big 4-2 victory over second-seeded FDU-Florham on Friday afternoon in the first game of the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Tournament at Misericordia University in Dallas.
 
The third-seeded Dutchmen (24-15) put a runner on base in six of the seven innings against the Devils (22-13-1) while Beachel kept the FDU-Florham bats quiet. Maddy Gronback had the first hit of the game in the top of the first inning with a hard-hit single through the right side. Bella Mackison drew a two-out walk before the Devils were able to get out of the inning with no runs scored. Beachel put FDU down in order in the bottom of the inning with one strikeout.
 
Nikki Seller drew a one-out walk in the top of the second, and Karena Justice singled to left field with two outs to put two runners on. Once again, the Devils were able to get the final out of the inning without a run scoring. Beachel struck out the first hitter and got a foul pop-up to Sellers at first to begin the bottom of the second. FDU recorded its first hit with a single to left before Beachel induced an easy pop-up to Grube at second to end the inning.
 
Both teams went down in order in the third inning, and the game went to the fourth inning still scoreless. Beachel led off the top of the fourth inning with a perfectly placed bunt single to the pitcher. Kratz moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt to the third baseman. LVC scored the first run of the game with two outs as Katie Muller reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop, and Beachel came around to score the first run of the game. Beachel continued her dominance in the circle, putting the Devils down in order on nine pitches in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Holly Grube knocked the second pitch of the fifth inning up the middle for her first hit of the game. Megan Heard reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop, as the throw to get Grube at second base was late and offline, and the sophomore advanced to third to put runners on the corners. Heard stole second, and with one out, Mackison laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher that scored Grube from third. The Devils got out of the inning with a fly ball to right. Beachel walked the first batter in the bottom of the inning but retired the next three batters. Lauren Foster and Katie Muller made nice grabs on the final two outs, chasing down balls that were hit into foul territory.
 
Kratz hit the first pitch of the sixth inning over the wall in right-center to put the Dutchmen up 3-0. Sellers drew a walk and was then pinch-run for by Avery Eaton. Muller moved Eaton over to second, and two batters later, Grube singled up the middle with two outs to score the run and give LVC a 4-0 advantage. Beachel got into some trouble in the bottom of the inning as the Devils legged out a pair of bunts with one out. The first-year worked out of the jam by forcing a foul pop-up to Kratz at third, and then an easy pop-up to Grube at second.
 
Gronback led off the seventh with a single through the left side. FDU got the next three batters out to keep the deficit at four. The first batter in the bottom of the seventh was hit by a pitch. Beachel got the first out of the inning with a ground ball to Sellers at first. The Devils hit a two-run home run on a 0-2 pitch to cut the lead in half. Beachel induced a fly ball to Justice in center and then an easy ground ball to Grube at second to end the game.
 
Inside the Box

• Beachel earned her 10th win of the year with seven strong innings. The first-year allowed just two runs on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts. At the plate, she had one hit and scored one run.
• Kratz blasted her third home run of the year and 11th of her career. The senior made three putouts at third base.
• Grube had two hits with one RBI and one run scored in the leadoff spot. The second baseman also had four putouts and one assist. Grube recorded her 21st multi-hit game of the year.
• Gronback had her 15th multi-hit game of the season with a pair of singles. The catcher has recorded multiple hits in each of the last five games.
• Heard stole her team-leading 21st base of the season. She moved into sixth in program history with her 65th career stolen base.
• Mackison walked once and had a pair of nice sacrifice bunts. She knocked in the second run of the game.

Up Next
LVC will play in the winner's bracket semifinal game tomorrow afternoon at 12 p.m. against top-seeded Misericordia. The Cougars defeated fourth-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology 4-2 in the second game of the day. A win over the Cougars will advance the Dutchmen to Sunday's Championship. If the Cougars win, LVC will play the winner of Stevens and FDU-Florham at 4 p.m. in an elimination game.

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