Geneva sweeps Lady Wolverines

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team fell to 2-4 Tuesday afternoon as visiting Geneva (12-3) swept the Lady Wolverines in a doubleheader at College Field. Geneva won the opener 9-0 and then held on for a 3-2 win in the nightcap.

In game two, Grove City took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as a single from sophomore catcher Kelly Cozad (Franklin, Pa./Franklin) drove in junior Sarah Babb (Cranberry, Pa./Cranberry), who reached on a three-base error. 

Geneva took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh when Grove City managed to put the winning run on base. Senior Rachel Russell (Shelbina, Mo./South Shelby) started the inning with a single. With one out, freshman pinch hitter Alicia Stefanak (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex) stroked a double to left field, scoring pinch runner Martha Shaw (Dayton, Va./Providence Christian). 

With two outs, senior Ellie Smith (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) reached on an infield hit, putting runners on the corners. However, Geneva reliever Jennifer Picard retired Katie Gaskill (Sarver, Pa./Knoch) to end the game.

Smith went 3-for-4 in the nightcap. Junior Allison Atwood (Warren, Pa./Warren) took the setback, despite fanning five in seven innings.

In the opener, Geneva broke the game open with a 7-run fifth inning. Smith and sophomore catcher Rachel Romance (East Springfield, Pa./Northwestern) each had singles for Grove City. Freshman pitcher Jes Flick (Boyers, Pa./Moniteau) fell to 2-1 on the season. Freshman Sarah Smith (Columbus, Ohio/Upper Arlington) pitched in relief.

The first game was called after the fifth due to the eight-run "mercy" rule. It was Grove City's first game in 23 days.

The Lady Wolverines host Division II foe Slippery Rock tomorrow afternoon for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.