Lady Wolverine softball team notches first victory

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WOOSTER, OH, March 20, 2001--Sophomore CF Ellie Smith (Grove City, PA/Grove City) lashed a two-run single to left center, capping a three-run eighth inning that lifted the Grove City College softball team to a 5-3 victory over the College of Wooster at Gault Field in Wooster, OH.  The Lady Wolverines (1-3) managed just one hit in the nightcap, however, as the Fighting Scots (2-7) prevailed 2-0.

In the win, Grove City scored all five runs in the final three innings, tying the game 2-2 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.  Junior 2B Stephanie Murphy (Munroe Falls, OH/Stow-Munroe Falls) led off the inning with a single, then senior CF Megan Wittenwyler (Des Moines, IA/Dowling) reached base on an error, scoring Murphy. Sophomore 3B Elena Cecchini (Avella, PA/Avella) followed with a double to right center, plating Wittenwyler with the tying run.

In the eighth, NCAA tiebreaker rules placed senior LF Jessie Renaldo (Brookville, OH/Brookville) on second base to start the inning.  Cecchini led off with a walk, then sophomore C Jayne Mincey (Grove City, PA/Grove City) reached base on an error, scoring Renaldo with the go-ahead run.  Freshman P Molly Forney (Annville, PA/Annville-Cleona) walked to load the bases, setting up Smith's two-run shot which secured the Lady Wolverines' first win of the season.

Forney (1-1) picked up the victory, surrendering just four hits and one earned run over the final four innings.  Forney struck out five and walked one.  Junior Laura LeVake (Faribault, MN/Faribault) started the game and pitched four strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits.  LeVake also blasted a double off the wall in center field (200 feet) to lead off the fifth, but was one of 11 Lady Wolverines left stranded in the game.

Freshman P Allison Atwood (Warren, PA/Warren) posted another solid outing in the second game, allowing just one run on five hits, while striking out six and walking two.  Sophomore 1B Rachel Russell (Shelbina, MO/South Shelby) accounted for Grove City's lone hit in the second inning.

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