HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Geneva's softball team split its games with the Houghton Highlanders on Saturday afternoon, winning Game One 6-3 before dropping the second one 7-4. A big first inning for the Highlanders in Game Two ended up costing the GTs, and they couldn't come back for the sweep. The women's record now stands at 6-8.
The Highlanders were the first team to strike in game one, with a Geneva error allowing a runner to score from second base in the second inning. Sophomore Sophia Tvaroch was able to limit the damage for the Golden Tornadoes from the mound, however, forcing Houghton to strand two runners on base at the end of the inning.
Geneva responded in the top of the third. With two outs, sophomore Lexi Zanic hit a single into left field, and after she stole second base senior Julia Hart sent her home on an RBI-double. Sophomore Justine Robbins quickly followed that up with an RBI-single of her own that allowed Hart to cross home plate. Houghton evened the game in the bottom half of the inning, and after three the score was 2-2.
The women scored another run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Brianna Thompson, and then broke the game open in the fifth. Singles from Zanic and Hart, combined with a Highlander fielding error, placed runners on second and third for the Golden Tornadoes. Two batters later, a big double from freshman Aliya Ottaviani scored two. An RBI-single from sophomore Alex Guzman brought Ottaviani home a few moments later, and Geneva found itself in front 6-2 after a three-run fifth inning.
Houghton managed to plate one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Tvaroch kept the GTs in front to allow the women to break their four-game losing streak and take game one 6-3.
Tvaroch was credited with the win, moving her record to 2-5 on the season. She pitched the full 7.0 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits. She also recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in the victory.
Geneva received contributions from a few different players offensively in game one. Hart finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, junior Megan Gray went 2-for-3 with two doubles, Ottaviani was 1-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, and Robbins, Guzman, and Thompson each posted RBIs as well.
Game two did not go as well for Geneva, with Houghton immediately jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The Highlanders punched in two more runs in the second inning, bringing their lead up to 6-0. Sophomore McKenzie Rapp came in and pitched solidly in relief, but the women were not able to overcome the early deficit.
A solo home run by Ottaviani in the fourth inning brought Geneva within four runs, and an RBI-single from Hart in the next inning cut Houghton's lead in half. Robbins brought the Golden Tornadoes within two runs on a sacrifice fly later in the inning, but that was as close as the ladies would get before they ultimately lost 7-4.
Graduate student Haley Smith was handed the loss after her rough first inning, dropping her record to 1-2 on the season. Rapp finished having allowed three earned runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings, striking out two and walking none.
Freshman Molly Shelley went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double. Hart finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, and Ottaviani was credited with one RBI on her solo homer.
Geneva will play at home for the first time this season on Wednesday, when the GTs take on Pitt-Greensburg in a doubleheader beginning at 3:30. After that, they open conference play on the road against Grove City 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).
