GRAPEVINE, Texas – The Geneva softball program saw its season come to a close Tuesday afternoon, with the GTs falling to Mid-America Christian in the quarterfinal round of the NCCAA World Series. The women advanced to the quarterfinals with a big 10-2 win over Dallas Christian earlier in the day, but MACU got the better of the Golden Tornadoes with a come-from-behind, 8-7 win in extra innings just a few hours later.

After not scoring a run in their first game of the tournament on Monday, the women rebounded with four runs right off the bat against Dallas Christian. Sophomore Kyra Wilcox got on base with one out via a walk, and after moving to second on a passed ball she was driven home on an RBI-single by junior Lexi Zanic. Graduate student Julia Hart singled on the next at-bat to put runners at the corners, and then a booming double from junior Justine Robbins cleared the bases. Another double, this time by junior Payton James, sent in Robbins, and Geneva led 4-0 after one inning.

The Golden Tornadoes added to their advantage in the very next frame, with an RBI-single from Wilcox scoring sophomore Molly Shelley from second. Junior McKenzie Rapp, who got the start in the circle for the GTs, kept the Crusaders at bay for the next few innings, allowing just three hits through the first four frames. Dallas Christian finally got on the board with two runs in the top of the fifth, but Geneva held fast to maintain a steady three-run advantage.

Junior Madison Rapp singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth for the women and stole second immediately afterward. Two batters later, senior Megan Gray punched a single into center field to send her home, making the score 6-2. Sophomore Makenna Redfern came in to pinch run for Gray, and after moving to third base on a Crusader error she came in to score on an RBI-single from Shelley.

Junior Sophia Tvaroch entered to pitch for Geneva in the sixth inning, and after walking the Crusaders' leadoff batter she retired the next three to keep the Golden Tornadoes well in front. Robbins picked up another RBI in the bottom of the frame, singling home Zanic, and then two more Geneva runs scored via a wild pitch and a passed ball to give the women the victory via mercy rule, 10-2.

Rapp went a strong 5.0 innings in the circle for the GTs, earning the win after allowing just two runs and striking out two. Robbins was the top performer in the batter's box for the women, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Wilcox and Hart also recorded two hits apiece in the win.

Mid-America Christian scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead in Geneva's second game of the day, but the GTs responded in a big way in the next frame. Hart and Robbins opened the inning with back-to-back hits, and Madison Rapp walked in the next plate appearance to load the bases with nobody out. James drove in Hart by way of an infield grounder, and then Gray sent a sacrifice fly to deep right field to score Robbins and give the women the lead. A throwing error allowed Rapp to score from third base, and finally Shelley drove in James with a single up the middle to give the Golden Tornadoes a 4-1 edge after two.

The women loaded up the bases once again in the third inning with nobody out, but MACU retired three straight batters to keep the GTs from scoring. The Evangels scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, drawing them within one. However, the Golden Tornadoes pushed the difference back up to two in the top of the fourth when Shelley scored from third on a dropped fly ball by the MACU right fielder.

The women kept Mid-America Christian off the board in the fourth inning, but the Evangels scored two runs early in the fifth to knot the score at 5-5. There it would stay for the next two frames, despite the GTs putting runners at second and third in the sixth inning. Still tied at 5-5 after seven, the two teams went to extra innings.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, a critical RBI-double by Shelley scored Redfern from first base to give Geneva the lead. Wilcox followed that up with an RBI-single of her own, and the GTs seemed primed for the victory with a two-run lead heading into the final half-inning. Unfortunately, the Evangels loaded the bases before Geneva could even record an out. They scored two runs, and with the winning run at third base and two outs, a Geneva error allowed MACU to walk-off with the win, 8-7.

Shelley had a good game for the GTs, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, two runs, and two stolen bases. Robbins was the only other Geneva player to record multiple hits in the loss, posting a double of her own. Wilcox, James, and Gray all had RBIs for Geneva in the second game.

The loss brings to a close what was an exciting season for Geneva softball. Head coach Van Zanic will lose just two from this year's roster, returning a very strong group of 10 seniors next season.

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).