GROVE CITY, Pa. – The Geneva College softball team faced off against Thiel in a PAC Tournament elimination game Saturday morning in a rematch of the first game of the tournament last Thursday. Unlike Thursday, however, the Golden Tornadoes came out red-hot offensively, scoring runs in the first five innings en route to a 10-6 victory over the Tomcats. The loss eliminates Thiel from the tournament, while the women move on to a semifinal contest with Grove City, with the winner of that game going to the PAC Championship.

Junior Sophia Tvaroch got the start in the circle for Geneva, making quick work of the Tomcats in the top of the first inning by retiring the side in order. In the bottom of the frame it was sophomore Kyra Wilcox who got the hitting started for the GTs, reaching base on a double to right-center field. Wilcox made it to third base on a wild pitch and then was brought home by graduate student Julia Hart to give the women a 1-0 advantage.

Thiel struck right back in the top of the second inning, scoring three runs before Geneva recorded an out. Junior McKenzie Rapp entered the game at that point and managed to get out of the inning without allowing another run.

With the GTs trailing 3-1, junior Payton James led off the bottom of the second with a single, and following a walk and a Thiel error she made it all the way around to third base. A sacrifice fly by junior Lexi Zanic sent her home, and then Wilcox doubled in another run to knot the score at 3-3.

Again, Thiel responded with runs in the top of the third, scoring two times to snag a 5-3 edge. Geneva was up to the task, however, scoring two of their own in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Molly Shelley hit a sacrifice fly to score graduate student Julia Hart from third, and then later in the inning sophomore Aliya Ottaviani tallied an RBI-single to tie the game once again.

That frame proved to be the start of 2.5 inning stretch in which the Golden Tornadoes scored seven straight runs, with junior Justine Robbins driving in two with a fourth inning double. Shelley singled up the middle to score sophomore Callie Mangan in the sixth inning, and then an RBI from Wilcox later in the inning made the score 9-5 in favor of Geneva. Shelley came home to score on a Thiel throwing error on the next play, and Geneva led 10-5 after five.

Thiel held the women scoreless in the sixth, but the Tomcats could only muster one run of their own over the final two frames. Junior Alena Campbell pitched a clean seventh inning in relief to close out a 10-6 victory for the GTs.

Wilcox led the way at the plate for the women, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs in the win. Robbins finished with two hits of her own, getting two RBIs on one double, while Shelley recorded two RBIs as well on a 1-for-3 effort. McKenzie Rapp got the win in relief, pitching 4.0 innings total while allowing just two earned runs.

While the women were scheduled to play Grove City College immediately following their victory, the game was postponed to Monday, May 5^th, due to the rainy conditions. First pitch is currently scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

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).