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March 3, 2008

March 3, 2008

CONTACT: Van Zanic

Director of Sports Information

(724) 847-6886

vgzanic@geneva.edu

GENEVA OPENS SEASON WITH FLORIDA SPLIT

(Drop 10 Inning Marathon to Roanoke)

            Kissimmee, FL – Geneva’s softball season got off to an impressive start with a 5-2 victory over Aurora University, a team that had made four trips to the NCAA national tournament in the past six years. The Golden Tornadoes didn’t have much time to celebrate the season opening victory as they watched a 5-0 lead against Roanoke disappear in the night cap, which culminated in a 6-5 loss in 10-innings.

            In game one, Ashley Archer picked up the victory, but allowed a pair of runs in the top of the first. Archer settled down from there and allowed just five hits the rest of the day. Geneva was held hitless in the first four innings, but exploded for a three-spot in the bottom of the fifth. An RBI single from Adriane Blake was followed by a two-run knock from Archer. The Golden Tornadoes picked up a couple of insurance runs in the sixth on Kim Slater’s two-run double. All of Geneva’s seven hits came in its last two at-bats, including a pair of hits and two-runs scored from Michawn Rich.

            Game two got off to a solid start as the Golden Tornadoes posted five runs in the top of the third. Rich knocked in the first run with an RBI single, which was followed by a two-run base hit from Lyndsay Piette. Adriane Blake’s bunt base hit plated another run and Geneva seemed well on its way to a two-game sweep. Freshman pitcher Rebekah Wahl was making her first collegiate start and kept Roanoke off the board until two runs crossed in the third. Two more runs crossed home plate in the fifth to give Geneva a slim one-run lead. Archer returned to the mound in the sixth, but watched the tying run cross the plate. The score remained tied until Roanoke managed a two-out, bases loaded single in the bottom of the tenth inning.

            Michawn Rich added three hits in the night cap, while Piette also came up with a pair of base hits. Geneva managed just three hits after taking a 5-0 lead in the third inning.

            The Golden Tornadoes will be back in action on Tuesday, including a match-up against 2^nd ranked Wartburg College and a contest against Eastern Mennonite. Geneva will play a total of ten games in Florida before returning home early next week.