BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – It wasn't the result the Geneva College softball team was looking for when it entered Saturday's final home doubleheader against a struggling Bethany squad. However, the Golden Tornadoes bounced back from a heartbreaking 11-10 loss in game one in which Geneva saw a big lead evaporate, winning game two 7-4 to earn a split on Senior Day. Geneva's record now stands at 17-15 overall, 10-6 in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC).
The first game couldn't have started much better for the Golden Tornadoes. Senior starter Haley Smith was pitching well, while the offense produced early. Senior Sarah Johnson led off the bottom of the first with a double and later scored on throwing error, while junior Julia Hart provided an RBI-double, eventually coming in to score to make it 3-0.
Smith wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the third to keep Bethany off the board, and the Golden Tornadoes seemed to take full control of the game when they scored six times in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman Payton James, senior Madison Forsythe and Hart all had RBIs early in the inning, and then senior Peri Ceasri drove in two more with an RBI-triple. Senior Madison Smith completed the scoring with a sacrifice fly to bring in Ceasri.
Geneva went to the bullpen to start the fifth, hoping to save Smith to help pitch in game two. The Golden Tornadoes needed to hold Bethany to just one run or less to end the game after five, and Geneva looked ready to do that when it had two outs with two on. However, Bethany proceeded to produce four straight hits off the bullpen, plating five runners to pull within 9-5 and avoid the mercy rule.
Geneva added in a run in the sixth and appeared to be in great shape heading into the seventh, ahead 10-5. The Golden Tornadoes recorded the first out before back-to-back errors opened the door for Bethany to storm back. Geneva even went back to Smith midway through the inning to try to finish off the game, but she couldn't stem the tide. With the bases loaded and two outs, the next three Bison reached base on two singles and walk to pull within 10-8, and then Morgan Huey's double cleared the bases to stun Geneva and take an 11-10 lead.
Johnson singled and stole second with one out in the bottom of the seventh, putting a runner in scoring position, but Geneva couldn't come up with the key hit and lost, 11-10.
Johnson led the offense with three hits, scoring twice, while Ceasri finished with three RBIs.
To make matters worse, Bethany's ace Josie Wise took the circle in game two, and the Bison took advantage of some early control issues from freshman starter Sophia Tvaroch to take an early lead. Another run off freshman reliever Liv Keller gave the Bison an 4-1 advantage through three innings.
Geneva's second reliever of the day, freshman Jorja Koerner brought some calm to the team, putting together a strong effort to keep the Bison off the board. That allowed the Golden Tornadoes to mount a comeback, which they did in the bottom of the fourth. One runner scored on a Bethany error, and then Hart came up with the key hit. Her two-out, bases-clearing double gave Geneva its first lead of the game, 5-4.
Koerner continued to keep Bethany off the board, and the Golden Tornadoes added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. James had an RBI-groundout, while Hart singled home Johnson with another run.
Koerner closed out the game in the seventh to earn her second win of the season, 7-4. She pitched five scoreless innings of relief while giving up five hits.
Hart led the offense with a 2-for-3 effort and four RBIs. Johnson went 2-for-3 as well, scoring twice, while Forsythe also managed to cross the plate twice.
Geneva enters the final week of the season in a tie for fifth place in the PAC standings. The Golden Tornadoes are locked into a spot in the playoffs, but Geneva would like to move into one of the top three spots in the standings to avoid having to play in the play-in round of the PAC playoffs. Geneva finishes the season with a doubleheader at Saint Vincent on Tuesday and a doubleheader at Franciscan on Saturday.
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).
