NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Geneva College softball team put forth one of its best efforts in years on Wednesday at #25 Westminster against a Titans squad that came into the doubleheader with a perfect 18-0 record.  The Golden Tornadoes were riding their own winning streak at 15 games, and with a combined 33 straight wins between the two schools, something had to give.  On this day, it proved to be the Golden Tornado winning streak that prevailed, as Geneva stunned the newly ranked Titan squad by winning both games by scores of 8-3 and 5-1.  The Golden Tornadoes now own the longest winning streak in school history at 17 games, moving their record to 21-3 overall, 4-0 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), while Westminster fell to 18-2 overall, 2-2 in the PAC.

Westminster was responsible for two of Geneva's losses earlier in the season when the Titans came to Beaver Falls and swept the Golden Tornadoes in early March.  Geneva may have thought more of the same was in store when the Golden Tornadoes went in order quickly in the top of the first inning of game one, and the Titans' leadoff hitter Brooke Atkins hit the first pitch from junior Nicole West (Glenwood, Md./McDonogh) in the bottom of the inning to center for a triple.  That led to two runs for Westminster, and before the game was more than a few minutes old, Geneva was already down 2-0 against a Titans squad that came in as the best hitting and best pitching team in the PAC.  However, that proved to be the only highlight of the day for Westminster.

The Geneva offense got going in the top of the third against Westminster starter Madison Brown, who came into the game with a sparkling 0.98 ERA, tops in the PAC.  The Golden Tornadoes opened the inning with three straight singles from seniors Madison Schultz (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) and Kyleigh Jo Ward (Laceyville, Pa./Wyalusing Valley) and junior Sarah Johnson (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista).  That loaded the bases with no outs, and after sophomore Madison Forsythe (Trafford, Pa./Penn Trafford) drove in one run with a sacrifice fly, sophomore Peri Ceasri (El Dorado Hills, Cali./Vista Del Lago) came through with a huge two-out, two-RBI single to give Geneva a 3-2 lead.

The lead was short-lived as Westminster immediately tied the score with a run in the bottom of the third.  Geneva would have an answer, though, when the top of the fifth arrived.

The first five Golden Tornadoes reached base in the fifth as Geneva plated five runs to take a commanding 8-3 lead.  Sophomore Hannah Raygor (Germantown, Md./Seneca Valley), Ceasri, West and Schultz all had RBIs in the inning.

That was more than enough offense for West, who went all seven innings in earning her 10^th win of the season.  She gave up just five hits, three earned runs and two walks, while striking out two.

Schultz finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring a run and driving in one.  Ceasri added a 2-for-3 effort with three RBIs.  Johnson was 2-for-4 with two runs, while senior Marina Manuppelli (Mars, Pa./Mars) finished 2-for-3 with a run.

Geneva seemed to carry that momentum into game two, and the Golden Tornadoes struck for their second five-run inning of the day in the top of the second.  Ceasri, Manuppelli and West opened the inning with singles.  Two Titans error contributed to the Geneva offense, with West and Schultz each picking up an RBI as the Golden Tornadoes took an early 5-0 lead.

That would be more than enough offense for sophomore starter Haley Smith (Joshua Tree, Cali./Yucca Valley), who kept the Westminster offense in check all game long.  The Titans scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth, but that was all Smith would allow.  She earned her 10^th win of the season with a complete-game effort, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out two.

West led the offense with a 2-for-3 effort, scoring once and driving in one.  Johnson, Ceasri, Manuppelli and Ward scored the other four Geneva runs.

"I'm extremely proud of this group and the way they have come together in support of each other," said Head Coach Van Zanic.  "Our offense was solid against some very good pitching, and I'm especially proud of our seniors today and the way they helped lead us all day.  That said, our pitchers were outstanding against a lineup that punishes any mistakes.  Nikki and Haley were special today, and the girls rallied around them with great defense."

Geneva doesn't have any time to take a breather.  The Golden Tornadoes travel on Saturday to Bethany for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.  The Bison are tied with Geneva at the top of the PAC with a 4-0 record.


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 has one of the top 100 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. Geneva was founded and is governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and is a founding member of both the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and IACE (International Association for Christian Education).