CLERMONT, Fla. – For the third time in three days since arriving in Florida on Saturday, the Geneva College softball team split its two games on Tuesday during its Spring Break trip.  Geneva lost a late lead and fell apart in a 13-1 loss to St. Scholastica in the first game of the day, but freshman starting pitcher Haley Smith (Joshua Tree, Cali./Yucca Valley) threw another gem for the Golden Tornadoes in the second game of the day against Suffolk in shutting out the Rams 5-0.  Geneva's record now stands at 3-3.

The first game of the day was a pitchers' duel for the first several innings, with sophomore Nicole West (Glenwood, Md./McDonogh) taking the circle for the Golden Tornadoes, and after a scoreless top of the first inning, West also provided some offense when her single drove in sophomore Sarah Johnson (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista), who had opened the bottom of the inning with a single and a stolen base, to give Geneva an early 1-0 lead.

Geneva had an opportunity to extend its lead in the second and third innings, but both times the Golden Tornadoes stranded two runners on base.

It looked like those missed chances may not cost Geneva as West cruised through the first four innings while giving up just three hits.  However, things fell apart quickly in the fifth inning, and a Golden Tornado error seemed to open the floodgates, with West was unable to stop the onslaught.  With a runner on and one out, the error opened the door for the Saints, and they barged right through the opening.  By the time the final out in the inning had been recorded, St. Scholastica had scored eight runs, knocking out West in the process, with most of the runs unearned.

The Saints later added on five more runs in the top of the seventh inning against the stunned Golden Tornadoes, and St. Scholastica quickly finished out the 13-1 victory.

West's final line showed 4.2 innings pitched, and she gave up nine hits and seven runs, though just two of those runs were earned, while striking out five.  Geneva managed just six hits, with West going 2-for-3 with an RBI, the only hitter with more than one hit for the Golden Tornadoes.

Geneva turned to Smith to turn things around for the Golden Tornadoes in the second game of the day against Suffolk, and she delivered again.  One day after she pitched all 11 innings of a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Marian, a game in which she struck out 11, the freshman came up big again.

The offense gave Smith some early support, scoring two runs in the top of the first on a two-out RBI-single by junior Madison Schultz (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley), giving Geneva a 2-0 lead before Smith had even thrown her first pitch. 

While Smith was cruising in the circle, Geneva's offense continued to add on runs.  Sophomore Madison Smith (Joshua Tree, Cali/Yucca Valley) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second.  Junior Marina Manuppelli (Mars, Pa./Mars) drove in Johnson in the top of the fourth with an RBI-groundout, while Johnson drove in freshman Hannah Raygor (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley) with a single in the top of the fifth, increasing Geneva's lead to 5-0.

The story of the day, though, was Smith's work in the circle.  Smith retired 11 of the final 12 batters she faced, completing the seven-inning shutout by allowing just three hits while striking out three.  She's thrown 22.2 innings in three starts so far this year, with just an 0.79 ERA, while giving up just 13 hits and striking out 14 batters.  Johnson led the offense with a 2-for-3 effort, with a run and an RBI, along with two more steals.  Schultz finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs.

"We had some critical mistakes in the first game that turned a good performance into a disaster," said Head Coach Van Zanic.  "I'm very proud of the way we bounced back against Suffolk, though, and we put together a complete game.  As always, it starts in the circle, and we all know we have someone special in Haley Smith.  What she's doing right now just three games into her freshman year is really tremendous."

Geneva will get a day off on Wednesday before returning to action on Thursday with a doubleheader beginning at 9:00 a.m. against Haverford, followed by an 11:15 a.m. contest against Roger Williams.


Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 145 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. Geneva is included on Kiplinger's Personal Finance's "2019 Best College Values" list and has one of the top undergraduate engineering programs in the nation, according to U.S. News and World Report. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God's Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today's world.