CLERMONT, Fla. – The Allegheny softball team continued their trip to The Spring Games in Florida Tuesday (March 5) by picking up a pair of shutout wins against 19th-ranked Lebanon Valley and Otterbein.
 
The Gators defeated 19th-ranked Lebanon Valley in game one 7-0 before topping Otterbein by the same mark in game two.
 
Game One - Allegheny 7, #19 Lebanon Valley 0
 
Lebanon Valley entered the game ranked 19th in the country after reaching the NCAA Super Regionals last season.
 
After getting out of a jam in the top of the first, Aleya Belardinelli (Melbourne, Fla./West Shore) reached on an error to start the bottom of the frame. Halle Book (Wexford, Pa./North Catholic) moved her over on a sacrifice bunt before an Olivia Devries (Kent, Ohio/Field) single took her to third. Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) would bring her home on a fielder's choice as the Gators scored the first run of the game.
 
Samantha Phillips (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) led off the second with a single, moving to second on a wild pitch. After a long at-bat, Hadley Horensky (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic) singled through the left side, putting runners on the corners. Audrey Blarr (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence) brought Phillips home on a fielder's choice, with Horensky beating the throw to second, making it 2-0.
 
Devries hit a double to the centerfield fence to start the third inning. Arianna Wilkinson (Warren, Ohio/Howland) entered to pinch run for her. An error let Sophia Godzak (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) reach first and move Wilkinson to third. Phillips hit into a fielder's choice which scored Wilkinson to increase the advantage to 3-0.
 
After a scoreless fourth, Devries collected her third hit of the game in the fifth, singling up the middle. Genareo followed up with a bloop single to left field before Godzak loaded the bases with a single through the right side of the infield. Horensky earned a walk to score Devries. Blarr then delivered a two RBI single to right field as the Gators pushed the lead to 6-0.
 
The Flying Dutchman threatened again in the sixth with two runners on and two outs, but Belardinelli got out of the situation with a strikeout.
 
A single by Belardinelli followed by an error put runners on the corners. With two outs, Godzak hit into an error, which allowed Belardinelli to score.
 
Once more, the Flying Dutchmen put two runners on in the seventh. However, the Gators once again got out then jam unscathed as they sealed the victory.
 
Inside the Box

• Devries finished with three hits, including a double, while scoring a run.
• Blarr had one hit but accounted for three RBI.
• Genareo, Phillips and Horensky registered a hit and an RBI. 
• Godzak and Belardinelli had hits as well.
• Belardinelli earned her third win of the week. In seven shutout innings, she allowed just two hits while striking out four. 

Game Two - Allegheny 7, Otterbein 0
 
Belardinelli led off game two with a single. After moving to third with two outs, Genareo brought her home with a RBI single up the middle. Godzak then blasted a home run over the left center fence to extend the lead to 3-0. The home run was the first for the Gators this season and sixth of her career.
 
In the second with Belardinelli on first via a single, Devries doubled down the left field line, bringing Belardinelli home. Genareo then sent one over the fence to extend the lead to 6-0. The homer marked Genareo's seventh of her career. 
 
Madison Hulse (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo) pinch ran for Genareo following a walk in the fourth. After a Godzak single, Phillips singled to centerfield to score her. 
 
Samantha Dzierba (Colden, N.Y./Orchard Park) limited the Cardinals chances by allowing just five hits and a walk while striking out seven to complete the sweep.
 
Inside the Box

• Godzak went four-for-four with a two run home run.
• Phillips had three hits and a RBI.
• Genareo finished with three RBI on two hits, including a home run.
• Belardinelli also added a pair of hits.
• Devries had an RBI and a double while Horensky also tallied a hit.
• Dzierba earned her second win of the week. In seven innings of shutout work, she allowed just five hits and a walk while striking out seven. 

News and Notes

• Allegheny improved to 6-0 to start the season.
• Today marked the first game against Lebanon Valley.
• The Gators are now 4-2 against Otterbein. 

Up Next
After a day off, the Gators return to action Thursday (March 7) to face Russell Sage and Bluffton.