GROVE CITY, Pa. – The Geneva softball team rallied from a three-run deficit to seize the lead late versus Grove City College on Thursday afternoon, but the Wolverines put together a big final inning to win the tournament semifinal game in walk-off fashion, 10-9. It was a disappointing loss for a Golden Tornadoes team that seemingly had a lot of momentum entering the contest, winning their previous two elimination games to preserve their run in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Tournament. That run is now over, and the women will now wait to hear about a potential birth in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) World Series. Grove City, on the other hand, advances to play Westminster in the PAC Championship.

Things started off well for Geneva, with sophomore Molly Shelley leading off the game with a double down the left field line before stealing third base. Sophomore Kyra Wilcox knocked a sacrifice fly into the outfield, allowing Shelley to score, and just like that Geneva led 1-0.

Grove City knotted the game with a run of their own in the bottom of the first, but the Golden Tornadoes responded right away. With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the second, freshman Isabela Skrlac blooped a single into right field that landed just in front of the fielder's glove, scoring two Geneva runs. Unfortunately, an unlucky line drive in Geneva's next plate appearance resulted in a bang-bang double play that ended the inning for the GTs.

The Wolverines stormed back in the bottom of the frame, scoring four times to seize a 5-3 advantage. Head coach Van Zanic decided to send in junior Sophia Tvaroch to pitch in relief at that point, and she held the Wolverines to just two runs over the next four innings.

Geneva got one run back in the fourth inning, with junior Madison Rapp reaching on a double and then coming home to score on a lined single by junior Payton James. Grove City scored twice in the fifth, and the GTs were trailing 7-4 heading into the sixth inning.

Junior Justine Robbins opened the frame with a triple, and after a Geneva walk she came home to score on an RBI-hit by James. With two on and one out, sophomore Callie Mangan stepped into the batter's box to pinch hit, and promptly crushed a home run to dead center that gave the GTs the lead. Shelley came up next, singled, and then stole both second and third base to put herself in a position to score. Wilcox drove her in with a triple, and things were looking good for Geneva. Tvaroch kept the Wolverines off the board in the bottom of the frame, and Geneva led 9-7 after six.

Unfortunately, disaster struck in the seventh inning. Tvaroch retired two of the first three Grove City batters, with the one reaching on a single, and Geneva seemed in good position. The Wolverines then hit a ground ball that could have ended the inning, but a Tornado error kept Grove City in the game with runners at the corners and two outs. A Wolverine double on the next play tied the game, and then in their next plate appearance Grove City managed a single to score the final run for the victory.

James had a terrific day for Geneva, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Skrlac and Wilcox each had two RBIs as well, with Wilcox recording a triple, while Shelley, Robbins, and Rapp each managed multiple hits in the loss.

Geneva is eligible for a spot in the NCCAA World Series. They will wait for the tournament bracket to be announced to see if their season will continue.

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).