Clermont, Fla. - The Golden Tornadoes finished well in their game against Carthage on Thursday to take the victory 5-2, before falling to Nebraska Wesleyan later in the day by a score of 8-0. Geneva now sits at 4-2 on the young season, with three more days of play remaining in Florida.
Things started off well for the women in their first game against Carthage, with graduate student Haley Smith managing to retire the first five batters she faced, including one strikeout. That success would not last long, however, as Smith allowed a double in the following at-bat and proceeded to walk the next three batters, which pushed a run across the plate for the Firebirds. Geneva exited the second inning trailing 1-0.
Sophomore McKenzie Rapp took over for Smith in the third inning and proceeded to confound the Firebirds from the pitcher's circle for most of the rest of the game. The women needed the strong pitching, as it was not until the fifth inning that they were able to score a run.
In the fifth frame, sophomore Lexi Zanic was able to reach base on a single, and she went to third on an impressive double to leftfield by senior Julia Hart. Sophomore Justine Robbins drove home Geneva's first run in the next at-bat with an RBI-single, and a wild pitch a few moments later allowed freshman Makenna Redfern, who was pinch running for Hart, to score from third, putting the GTs in front 2-1.
The next inning proved to be a big one for the women as well, with Zanic collecting a two RBI-single with two outs. Zanic advanced to second on the throw, and Hart drove her home with a single down the leftfield line to push Geneva's lead to 5-1.
The Firebirds were able to score once more in the top of the seventh inning, but Rapp's strong pitching allowed the GTs to close out the game comfortably. In 5.0 innings of relief, she allowed just one run on three hits, striking out one and walking two to snatch her second win of the season.
Zanic led the women at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs. Hart had an excellent game as well, going 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a walk. Robbins also contributed an RBI on two hits.
The second game of the day did not go nearly as well for the Golden Tornadoes, as they lost in mercy-rule fashion to the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves, 8-0 in five innings. Sophomore Sophia Tvaroch got the start, but allowed five runs, three earned, in 4.0 innings. Sophomore Jorja Koerner took over for a brief period in relief, but after just 0.1 innings pitched she had given up three earned runs on four hits, and the Prairie Wolves took a mercy-rule win.
Junior Megan Gray was the lone highlight at the plate for Geneva in the second game, hitting 2-for-2. Geneva managed just three hits across the five innings.
The Golden Tornadoes will be back in action down in Florida again tomorrow, with games against Roger Williams at 10:00 am and Fontbonne at 1:45 pm.
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).
