WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Senior Haley Smith had another strong outing in the circle on Thursday, enabling the Geneva College softball team to pick up another split. Smith pitched Geneva to a 7-1 win over Penn State Behrend in the opener before the Golden Tornadoes dropped a 10-8 game to Thomas. Geneva's record is now 2-4.
Smith got the start in the first game against Penn State Behrend, and she shut down the Lion offense. Geneva got on the board in the third inning courtesy an RBI-single from senior Madison Forsythe.
The Golden Tornadoes put together a big inning in the fourth, scoring four times. Seniors Danielle Goodman and Madison Smith had RBI-singles, and then graduate student Sarah Johnson wrapped up the inning with a single that drove in two runners.
Behrend picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the inning off Smith, but Geneva answered with two runs in the fifth on a single from Goodman that drove in both runners. In the sixth, Johnson and freshman Lexi Zanic executed a double steal, with Johnson stealing home, to wrap up the scoring, 7-1.
Smith earned the win with six innings of quality work, giving up just three hits and one unearned run, while striking out six.
Offensively, freshman Alex Guzman led the team with three hits. Goodman finished with two hits, two runs and two RBIs, while Forsythe also contributed two hits. Johnson drove in two runs and stole two bases.
Geneva took on Thomas in the second game of the day, and Thomas got to freshman starter Sophia Tvaroch early for three runs in the top of the first inning.
Tvaroch settled down, though, and allowed Geneva's offense to get the team back into the game. Johnson singled, stole a base, and came around to score on Forsythe's double in the first. Geneva tied the game up in the third with two more runs. Forsythe drove in Johnson again, while sophomore Megan Gray picked up an RBI.
However, Geneva's defense let Tvaroch down in the fourth inning. A key two-out error opened the door for Thomas to score four times, all unearned. The Terriers added three more runs against the Geneva bullpen in the fifth inning to take a commanding 10-3 lead.
Geneva continued to battle, though, adding a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to pull within 10-6. The Golden Tornadoes then put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded, senior Peri Ceasri drove in one run with a single. Freshman Jorja Koerner followed with a walk to bring in another run, but a shallow fly ball off the bat of freshman Justine Robbins was caught and ended the late rally, 10-8.
Geneva actually outhit Thomas, 15-9. Forsythe finished a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs, two RBIs and a stolen base. Johnson also finished with four hits, adding three runs and three stolen bases. Koerner and sophomore Megan Gray each added two hits, while Koerner drove in three runs.
The team will be back in action tomorrow for two more games. Geneva takes on Nebraska Wesleyan and 2:00 p.m., followed by a game with Concordia Chicago at 4:30 p.m.
Through purposeful learning in a community reflecting the full spectrum of God's kingdom, a Geneva College experience inspires students to discover a faith-life calling in service to God and neighbor. Offering 195+ traditional undergraduate majors and programs, fully online Adult Degree Programs and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality and affordability. 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 the International Association for Christian Education (IACE).
