Game 1: Geneva 4, Pitt-Greensburg 3
Pitt-Greensburg opened Thursday's doubleheader with a strong offensive showing but came up just short in a 4-3 loss to Geneva.
Geneva struck first in the bottom of the opening inning, using a leadoff double and a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead. The run was unearned, as the Golden Tornadoes capitalized on an early Bobcat error.
Pitt-Greensburg answered in the second with a big inning. Mckenzie Lamb and Falynn Reinard each singled to set the table before Brenna Altman delivered a two-run double to left-center. An error on the play allowed Altman to move to third, giving the Bobcats a 2-1 advantage.
Geneva tied the game in the third, taking advantage of another defensive miscue and aggressive baserunning to even the score at 2-2.
The Golden Tornadoes regained the lead in the fourth on an RBI single, but Pitt-Greensburg quickly responded in the fifth. Shelby Cloak singled, and Jessica Dunn followed with a clutch RBI double to left-center to tie the game at 3-3.
The game remained deadlocked until the sixth inning when Geneva manufactured the go-ahead run. Molly Shelley reached base and used her speed to steal second and third before scoring on Kyra Wilcox's RBI single, putting Geneva ahead 4-3.
The Bobcats threatened in the seventh, putting the tying run on base, but Geneva was able to close out the game.
Pitt-Greensburg finished with 12 hits, led by Dunn and Altman with two hits apiece, while Altman drove in a pair. Autumn Powell went six innings in the circle, striking out seven.
Game 2: Geneva 4, Pitt-Greensburg 3
In the nightcap, Pitt-Greensburg once again found itself in a tight battle, but a late rally by Geneva resulted in another 4-3 defeat.
After a scoreless first three innings, the Bobcats broke through in the fourth. McKenzie Lamb singled and Sadie Kelly followed with a base hit before Whitney McCoskey drew a walk to load the bases. Pitt-Greensburg took advantage of a Geneva error in the outfield, scoring two unearned runs to grab a 2-0 lead.
Geneva answered in the bottom half of the inning, using a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly to even the game at 2-2.
The Bobcats regained the lead in the fifth when Cassidy Kunkel walked, advanced on a hit by Keira Rozanski, and came home on a sacrifice fly from Mia Dalessandro to make it 3-2.
Pitt-Greensburg carried that lead into the seventh behind a strong outing from Nicole Palmer, who kept Geneva off balance throughout the game.
In the final inning, Geneva mounted the decisive rally. A pair of singles put runners in scoring position before a sacrifice fly tied the game. Moments later, a groundout brought home the winning run, as the Golden Tornadoes completed the comeback for a 4-3 victory.
Kelly led the Bobcats with two hits, while Kunkel scored twice.
