ELIZABETHTOWN COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Saturday, April 26, 2008

Lebanon Valley Sweeps Etown to Close Regular Season

Click here for the game one boxscore
Click here for the game two boxscore

ANNVILLE, Pa. --- Host Lebanon Valley College snagged the top seed in next weekend's Commonwealth Conference softball tournament with a doubleheader sweep of Elizabethtown College on Saturday, winning by scores of 3-1 and 2-0.

Valerie Malizzia pitched a complete-game four-hitter in game one, and Laura Snyder duplicated the feat in the nightcap as the Dutchmen (24-9 overall, 9-1 Commonwealth) improved to 14-2 at home, where they will host the conference playoffs.

In game one, the Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-out RBI double by senior Abbie Merrifield (York, PA/Dallastown), but Lebanon Valley scored three times in the third on an RBI double by Kristen Uhas and a two-run home run by Jessica Salisbury.

The Blue Jays threatened in the sixth, putting runners on first and third with two out, but Malizzia induced a popup to end the threat.

Malizzia (10-3) struck out four and walked three to earn the win for Lebanon Valley, while senior Alex Lee (Emmaus, PA/Emmaus) fell to 9-11 after allowing six hits and striking out eight in a complete-game effort.

Sophomore Paige Tanner (Waynesboro, PA/Waynesboro) went 2-for-3 with a triple for the Blue Jays in game one, while Salisbury finished 2-for-2 with a two-run homer for the Dutchmen.

In game two, Snyder improved to 12-2 and lowered her earned run average to 1.16 with her fifth shutout of the season, striking out 10 and walking none while scattering four singles.

Lebanon Valley jumped on the board in the third inning on an RBI double by Katie DeJulio, and added a run in the fourth on an RBI single by Snyder.

First-year student Lisa Malehorn (Halifax, PA/Halifax) allowed six hits and struck out one for the Blue Jays (11-22 overall, 5-5 Commonwealth), but took the loss.

The Blue Jays will be the third seed for next weekend's conference tournament, and will play second-seeded Widener University in their opening game on Friday at 1:00 p.m. at Lebanon Valley.

Game one
Lebanon Valley Coll. 3, Elizabethtown Coll. 1
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Elizabethtown Coll.. 100 000 0 - 1 4 0 (11-21)
Lebanon Valley Coll. 003 000 x - 3 6 0 (23-9)
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Alex Lee and Abbie Merrifield; Valerie Malizzia and Jessica Salisbury. WP-Malizzia (10-3). LP-Lee (9-11). SO-BB: Lee 8-3; Malizzia 4-3. HR-Salisbury (LV).

Game two
Lebanon Valley Coll. 2, Elizabethtown Coll. 0
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Elizabethtown Coll.. 000 000 0 - 0 4 0 (11-22)
Lebanon Valley Coll. 001 100 x - 2 6 0 (24-9)
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Lisa Malehorn and Abbie Merrifield; Laura Snyder and Caitlin Keller. WP-Snyder (12-2). LP-Malehorn (2-11). SO-BB: Malehorn 1-2; Snyder 10-0.