NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – The Geneva softball team needed to win three games Saturday afternoon to win the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Tournament. They secured the first of those victories with a 3-0 shutout of Bethany in their first contest of the day, but then lost to Westminster in the championship round, 4-0, bringing an end to an incredible season for the Golden Tornadoes.
The first game of the day, against Bethany, proved to be a pitchers' duel right from the outset. Senior
Sophia Tvaroch got the start for Geneva, with Bison ace Trinity Edge taking the circle for Bethany. The two hurlers were very impressive to begin the game, allowing zero runs and just one hit combined through the first three innings of play.
After stranding runners on second and third in the third inning, Geneva finally scored in the fourth. Senior
Lexi Zanic drew a walk to lead off the frame, and after the next to GTs were retired, senior
Madison Rapp singled through the right side of the infield to score Zanic from second base.
Up 1-0, the Golden Tornadoes struck again in the fifth inning. Sophomore
Isabela Skrlac drew a walk the first at-bat of the frame, and then junior
Molly Shelley connected for a two-run home run right afterward.
With a three-run cushion, Tvaroch was lights out the rest of the way, giving up just one hit over the final three innings to complete the game and earn the victory. She pitched the full 7.0 innings, allowing just four hits and striking out five without surrendering a run.
Shelley was the hero offensively versus Bethany, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, and a run scored. Rapp finished 1-for-2 with an RBI in the win as well.
Geneva entered the championship round with Westminster with optimism after their victory over Bethany, but as they had done three times already this season, the Titans shut the Golden Tornado bats down. Cheyenne Piper, last season's PAC Pitcher of the Year, was very efficient on the mound for the No. 1 overall seed, keeping the GTs off the scoreboard for the entire game.
Westminster scored once in the second and third innings and then doubled its advantage with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Geneva had runners on first and second with one out in the fourth inning, but that was as close as the women got to scoring the entire game, losing to the Titans 4-0.
Junior
Kyra Wilcox was the only Geneva batter with multiple hits in game two, finishing 2-for-3. Zanic and senior
Payton James also contributed hits in the loss.
Following the conclusion of the final game, James, Shelley, and Tvaroch were all named to the PAC All-Tournament Team for their performances over the course of the weekend.
The championship loss was an unfortunate end to a tremendous year for the Golden Tornadoes, who went 34-10 this season with an 18-4 record in conference play. Even more bittersweet, it brings to an end the careers of Geneva's nine seniors: Zanic, James, Tvaroch,
Justine Robbins,
Alena Campbell,
Jorja Koerner,
Mallie Ruscitti, and Madison and
McKenzie Rapp, representing one of the best classes to ever come through the program, and they will leave some massive holes to fill both in the lineup and in the pitcher's circle.
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).
