BEAVER FALLS, Pa. – The Geneva College softball team split a doubleheader with Carnegie Mellon on Wednesday afternoon on a cold and windy day.  The Golden Tornadoes saw their nine-game winning streak snapped in game one with a 6-4 loss, but Geneva rebounded to win a high-scoring affair in game two, 12-9.  Geneva's record now stands at 22-14.

Sophomore McKenzie Rapp got the start in game one, and Geneva used the first game to get a number of reserves some playing time with the non-conference doubleheader not impacting Geneva's conference standing.

The Tartans got on the board in the top of the first, scoring twice, helped out by a Geneva error.

The Golden Tornadoes couldn't get much going against CMU ace Amanda Smith, generating just one hit in her five innings of work.  That one hit was a big one, though.  In the third inning, Geneva took advantage of a Tartan error and a hit batter when sophomore Justine Robbins drove a pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run, the first homer of her career.  That gave the Golden Tornadoes a brief 3-2 lead.

CMU pulled even in the top of the fourth with a run, and the Tartans retook the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth.  CMU added an insurance run in the top of the seventh.

Geneva did manage a run in the seventh when sophomore Madison Rapp tripled and came home on an RBI-single from senior Julia Hart, but the comeback fell short with the tying runners on base, 6-4.

The Golden Tornadoes managed just four hits in game one, highlighted by Robbins' blast.

Geneva reinserted its starting lineup in game two, with sophomore Sophia Tvaroch getting the start in the circle, and Hart gave her some early run support when she homered to straight away center in the bottom of the first.

CMU took advantage of a Geneva error to pull even in the top of the second, and defensive struggles proved costly for the Golden Tornadoes over the next two innings.

The Tartans scored four times in the top of the third, with all but one run unearned after three Geneva errors in the frame.

The Golden Tornado offense responded in the bottom of the third inning, though, scoring three times to pull within 5-4.  Sophomore Lexi Zanic opened the inning with a walk and went to third on a double from Hart.  Robbins singled home Zanic, and Madison Rapp drove in Hart with an RBI-groundout.  Robbins came around to score later in the inning on an RBI-single from senior Elishea Reed.

The Tartans added another unearned run in the top of the fourth, but the Geneva offense stayed hot on the chilly day with temperatures in the mid-40s.  Freshman Molly Shelley singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth, stole second and went to third on a single from Zanic.  Zanic stole second, and both runners came home on a single from Hart.  Robbins followed with a double to move Hart to third, and Rapp followed with a single to drive in Hart as the first five batters reached base.  Reed later added another RBI-single to give Geneva an 8-6 advantage.

CMU responded in the top of the fifth, though, eventually knocking Tvaroch out of the game.  Sophomore Jorja Koerner finally got the last out of the inning, but the Tartans retook the lead with three runs, 9-8.

Geneva answered in the bottom of the frame.  Shelley singled again to leadoff, stole second and came home on an RBI-single from Zanic.  Robbins doubled home Zanic, and Reed came through with two outs with a single that drove in what proved to be the final two runs of game, giving the Golden Tornadoes a 12-9 lead heading into the sixth.

Koerner provided Geneva with strong relief to earn the victory.  She retired seven of the final eight Tartans she faced, earning her first win of the season with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief.

Geneva collected 17 hits in game two, led by Robbins' four hits.  Hart went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs and three RBIs.  Reed also finished with three hits to go with four RBIs.  Zanic, Rapp and sophomore Alex Guzman each added two hits apiece, with Zanic scoring three times.

The Golden Tornadoes wrap up conference play on Friday with a doubleheader against Franciscan at 4:00 p.m.  Geneva will honor its three seniors, Hart, Reed and student-assistant Cailey Shimko, prior to the game.