BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – Senior Sarah Johnson added another school record to her collection on a beautiful Wednesday afternoon, breaking the school record for career hits as softball swept W&J by scores of 12-4 and 10-6 in a home doubleheader. Geneva improved to 13-13 overall, 6-4 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
Senior Haley Smith got the start in game one, and W&J struck for two early runs on a two-run home run off the bat of Peyton Eckenrode in the top of the first.
Johnson, who only needed one hit to break the school record of 232 set by Geneva Hall of Famer Amy Pearce in 2009, wasted no time in securing that record with a leadoff single in the bottom of the first. So far this season Johnson has already broken the career stolen bases, runs and triples records for the Golden Tornadoes.
Geneva didn't get on the board, though, until the bottom of the second when Johnson drove home junior Elishea Reed with an RBI-single. The Golden Tornadoes had a chance for more, but they left the bases loaded in the inning.
The offense didn't waste its chances in the third inning, though. In one of the most impressive innings in school history, the first 11 batters reached base safely, capped off by a three-run homer by junior Julia Hart. Geneva scored 11 runs before an out was recorded in the inning. The Golden Tornadoes collected two hit batters, five singles, two doubles and Hart's home run in the inning.
Freshman McKenzie Rapp took over for Smith in the top of the fourth, and she finished out the victory, earning the win with two innings of relief, 12-4.
Johnson led the offense, going 4-for-4 with a triple, a run, an RBI and two stolen bases. Graduate student Madison Smith, senior Peri Ceasri and freshman Madison Rapp each had two hits. Hart drove in three with her home run, while Rapp and fellow freshmen Payton James and Lexi Zanic each drove in two. Hart, Reed and senior Madison Forsythe each scored twice.
Smith got the start again in game two, and Johnson generated a run by herself in the bottom of the first. She singled, stole second and third base, and then she scored on a W&J throwing error.
The Presidents pulled even in the top of the second with a run before the Geneva offense provided more firepower, again from the bat of Johnson. Zanic drove home one run with a sacrifice fly, and Johnson finished off the inning with an RBI-triple.
W&J answered immediately, though, putting together some good swings in the top of the third to score three runs itself, pulling level again, 4-4.
Geneva took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Rapp drove in one with an RBI-groundout, while James drove in Zanic, who had doubled, with an RBI-single.
The Golden Tornadoes broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Hart delivered a two-run single, while Ceasri followed with a two-run double to push the Geneva advantage to 10-4.
McKenzie Rapp closed out the win, 10-6, earning a save with 1.1 innings of relief. Smith earned the victory, her eighth of the season.
Johnson again led the offense with three hits, including a triple, two runs, two stolen bases and an RBI. Ceasri also contributed three hits to the attack, along with two RBIs, while James added two hits.
Geneva has its toughest test of the conference season on Saturday, with the Golden Tornadoes traveling to last year's PAC Champion, Waynesburg, for a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m. The Yellow Jackets are currently a perfect 10-0 in conference play this season.
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).
