WAYNEBURG, Pa. – The Geneva College softball team delivered its best performance of the season, controlling both games of a doubleheader at Waynesburg on Saturday afternoon, a team that came into the day with a perfect 10-0 record in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC), winning by scores of 6-0 and 5-3. Geneva improved to 15-13 overall, 8-4 in the PAC.
The Golden Tornadoes took on the reigning PAC Pitcher of the Year in game one, Sydney Wilson, but it was Geneva's ace, senior Haley Smith, that was the best pitcher in the game. Smith worked around a leadoff triple in the bottom of the first, keeping the Yellow Jackets off the board through the first two innings.
The Geneva offense came alive in the top of the third, giving Smith more offensive support than she would need. Freshman Lexi Zanic opened the inning with a single, and senior Sarah Johnson followed with a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Freshman Payton James delivered an RBI-single to drive Zanic home. Senior Madison Forsythe followed with an RBI-single to score Johnson, and after one out, senior Peri Ceasri drove in Geneva's third run of the inning. Junior Elishea Reed provided an RBI-groundout for the fourth run, and graduate student Madison Smith drove home Geneva's fifth run with a single.
That was more than enough support for Smith. Forsythe drove in another run in the sixth with a single, and Smith did the rest, finishing off the complete-game shutout to win 6-0.
Smith earned her ninth win of the season, giving up eight hits while striking out five in her seven innings of work. Forsythe and Ceasri led the offense with two hits apiece.
Geneva got to face Waynesburg's other ace, freshman Autumn Stemple, who had just as impressive numbers at Wilson had so far this season, in game two. Geneva countered with freshman Sophia Tvaroch, getting her first start in a few weeks. Tvaroch responded with her best performance of the season.
Geneva gave Tvaroch immediate support. James drove in Johnson with an RBI-double in the top of the first, and James later scored on an RBI-groundout from Forsythe to give the Golden Tornadoes two early runs.
Tvaroch retired 14 of the first 16 batters she faced, keeping the Yellow Jackets off the board through five innings, while Geneva added to its lead with an RBI-single from junior Julia Hart in the third, and two more runs in the fourth on an RBI-triple from Johnson.
Waynesburg's potent offense tried to stir to life in the bottom of the sixth, delivering two double to open the inning to get on the board. Smith relieved Tvaroch at that point and limited the damage to just two runs in the sixth. A Geneva error led to another run in the bottom of the seventh by the Yellow Jackets, but Smith closed out the win, 5-3.
Tvaroch earned her first career win, pitching five innings while giving up just four hits and two runs, while striking out four. Johnson and James led the offense with two hits apiece, while Zanic scored two runs.
The women will wrap up their non-conference play on Monday with a road doubleheader at Pitt-Greensburg, before returning to PAC play on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Thiel.
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).
