BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College softball team had a chance for an impressive sweep on Thursday afternoon, defeating Waynesburg ace Sydney Wilson in the first game of its doubleheader on Thursday afternoon, 8-7. The Golden Tornadoes then led for much of the second game, but Geneva couldn't hold on, falling 8-6, with the two teams each picking up a win. The first win was an important win for the Golden Tornadoes, though, against one of the hottest teams in the PAC so far this season. Geneva's record is now 12-10 overall, 2-4 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), while Waynesburg is 17-6, 6-2 in the PAC.
In game one, the Golden Tornadoes faced Wilson, who came in having allowed just two earned runs in 73 innings of work this season. Senior Nicole West (Glenwood, Md./McDonogh) opposed Wilson in the circle, and things didn't start well when two two-out errors in the top of the first allowed Waynesburg to score two early runs.
A leadoff double from West in the bottom of the second led to a run, but the Yellow Jackets answered with two more runs in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.
Geneva's offense rallied in the bottom of the fourth, though, with junior Madison Forsythe (Trafford, Pa./Penn Trafford) leading off with a walk, followed by a single from sophomore Elishea Reed (Lanse, Pa./West Branch), and both runners eventually came around to score to cut the deficit back down to one.
The Golden Tornadoes then put together a big inning in the bottom of the fifth. Forsythe and West each came through with RBI-singles, and then both Forsythe and West later came around to score on a passed ball and a wild pitch, giving Geneva a 7-4 lead.
However, Waynesburg came right back in the top of the sixth. The Yellow Jackets scored three times, eventually knocking West out of the game, with junior Haley Smith (Joshua Tree, Calif./Yucca Valley) relieving West. Smith managed to leave the bases loaded to prevent further damage.
Senior Sarah Johnson's (Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista) speed led to the eventual winning run in the bottom of the inning. She reached first on a fielder's choice with two outs. She stole second, and then she came all the way around to score when Forsythe beat out a slow infield roller, giving Geneva the lead back, 8-7.
The victory didn't come easily, though. Waynesburg loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh. However, senior Madison Smith (Joshua Tree, Calif./Yucca Valley), who was playing third base, snared a ground ball near the bag. She stepped on third for the force out, and then she threw home to nail the possible tying run, ending the game in dramatic fashion.
Haley Smith earned her seventh win of the season, pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless relief. Forsythe and West both led the offense, each going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Smith got the start in game two, and Geneva gave her some early run support with junior Peri Ceasri (El Dorado Hills, Calif./Vista Del Lago) driving in a run in the first and junior Danielle Goodman (Glen Burnie, Md./Calvary Baptist) driving home another run in the second.
Waynesburg tied the score at 2-2 with single runs in the third and fourth innings, but Geneva responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning as Goodman singled, Johnson walked and Forsythe singled to open the inning, and all three would come around to score, with the help of a Yellow Jacket error.
Waynesburg answered right back with two runs in the top of the fifth, but another Yellow Jacket error in the bottom of the inning enabled Geneva to score again, taking a 6-4 lead.
Unfortunately, Geneva's pitching couldn't hold on. The Yellow Jackets scored three times in the sixth to take their first lead of the game, and they added an insurance run in the seventh. Wilson, who came in during the fifth inning in relief for Waynesburg, proved much tougher in game two. She didn't allow a hit in 2.2 innings, preventing Geneva from rallying, and she closed out the victory for Waynesburg, 8-6.
Geneva managed just six hits in the second game, led by two hits from Goodman.
The Golden Tornadoes will be off this weekend before heading to Franciscan on Monday for a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader.
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).
