CLERMONT, Fla. – The Geneva College softball team headed into this season knowing it would be carried by its two standout pitchers in senior Nicole West (Glenwood, Md./McDonogh) and junior Haley Smith (Joshua Tree, Calif./Yucca Valley), and the duo showed how good they can be on Tuesday in Florida. Smith opened the day by giving up just one hit in a 6-3 victory over Otterbein, and then West did one better by delivering a no-hitter in a 6-0 shutout of Pitt-Greensburg. Geneva improved its record to 4-2.
The Golden Tornadoes got on the board immediately in their first game against Otterbein, scoring twice in the top of the first. Senior Sarah Johnson (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) and junior Madison Forsythe (Trafford, Pa./Penn-Trafford) opened the game with singles and stolen bases, and both came around to score later in the inning to give Smith a quick 2-0 lead.
Smith gave up just one base runner, on a walk, through the first three innings. Her defense let her down in the bottom of the fourth, as three errors and a walk led to two runs for Otterbein, which tied the score at 2-2.
Johnson ignited the Geneva offense again in the top of the fifth with a leadoff single and a stolen base. West delivered a 2-run single later in the inning, and then senior Sydney Young (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) drove in West with a single.
Smith worked around a two-out double in the fifth, the only hit of the game for the Cardinals. Senior Madison Smith (Joshua Tree, Calif./Yucca Valley) drove in Geneva's last run with a single in the top of the sixth.
Otterbein scored another unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to close out the scoring.
Smith picked up the complete-game victory by allowing just one hit and three unearned runs. She did battle her control at times, giving up five walks, while striking out two.
Johnson led the offense, reaching base all four times with three singles and walk. She scored three runs and stole two bases. West finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Madison Smith drove in two runners.
West took the ball in the second game of the day against Pitt-Greensburg, and she was excellent. Sophomore Julia Hart (Prospect, Pa./Slippery Rock) supplied West two runs in the bottom of the first with an RBI-single, and that was more than enough for West.
Young and Madison Smith added RBI-doubles in the bottom of the third, with Young's double scoring two runners, and Geneva scored another run in the fourth to give the Golden Tornadoes a 6-0 lead.
West retired the first ten batters she faced, and only an error in the fourth prevented her from having a perfect game. She pitched all seven innings without giving up a hit or a walk, while striking out six.
Forsythe and Madison Smith had identical lines offensively, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Hart and Young each drove in two.
"Nikki was tremendous all game," said Head Coach Van Zanic. "She was under control, and if wasn't for the error, she would have had a perfect game. Haley was really good as well, though she battled her control a couple of times. We know this year that we are going to go as far as these two can carry us, and today was a pretty good indication of what these two are capable of doing. To give up just one hit in a doubleheader is pretty special."
Geneva will get a couple days off to enjoy the Florida weather before returning to action on Friday at 9:15 a.m. to take on Pitt-Greensburg again, followed by a game with Thomas College.
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).
