NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Geneva College softball team, which came into the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tournament as the hottest team in the conference, having won 14 of 15 games, couldn't sustain its recent strong play and lost to Grove City, 8-5, in an elimination game on Friday morning.  Geneva's record is now 26-16 as it anticipates a possible bid to the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Regional tournament that takes place next week.

Sophomore Sophia Tvaroch got the start in the circle, and she was effective early, keeping the Wolverines scoreless through three innings.  Geneva got on the board first in the bottom of the third on an RBI-double from sophomore Lexi Zanic.

Disaster struck in the top of the fourth, though.  Tvaroch lost her command, walking three batters as Grove City scored twice before she was taken out with the bases loaded.  Sophomore McKenzie Rapp relieved Tvaroch, but she couldn't find much success initially either.  By the time Rapp recorded the third out, Grove City had scored eight times, aided by four walks issued.

The deficit was too big for Geneva to climb out of, though Rapp did provide effective relief over the final three innings.  Freshman Molly Shelley delivered a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth, but the Golden Tornadoes left the bases loaded in that inning. 

Geneva didn't give up, battling to the last out.  Sophomore Madison Rapp provided a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh, but the comeback attempt eventually fell short, 8-5.

Shelley led the offense with three hits, while freshman Kyra Wilcox added two hits.

Despite the loss, Geneva's season will likely continue, though.  The Golden Tornadoes have a good chance to receive an invitation to the NCCAA Regional, hosted by Concordia (MI), which will take place the middle of next week.