April 10, 2008

Grove City sweeps Lions; Pennell fires no-hitter

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team earned its first doubleheader sweep of the 2008 season Thursday as the Wolverines swept visiting Penn State-Greater Allegheny, 8-0 and 15-0, in a non-conference twinbill at College Field. Both games lasted 4 1/2 innings due to the eight-run mercy rule.

In the opener, freshman pitcher Lauren Pennell (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) fired her first collegiate no-hitter. Pennell struck out seven and issued a pair of walks over five innings. It is Grove City's first no-hitter since Laura LeVake held Peace College hitless March 1, 2002 in Wilmington, N.C.

In the nightcap, freshman pitcher Kim Guyaux (Monaca, Pa./Center) followed with a three-hit shutout. Guyaux fanned five batters and walked only one.

Grove City (6-14 overall) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of Game One and then broke the game open with a five-run third inning. Senior catcher Abby Greiner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) doubled home one run during the third while senior first baseman Kelley Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) drove home two runs with a single to center field.

Pennell and junior second baseman Amy Fisher (Streetsboro, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) both singled twice in the win while freshman shortstop Christine Slater (Aliquippa, Pa./Center) drove in two runs.

Greiner helped lead Grove City's 15-hit attack in the nightcap with two doubles and a pair of singles in four at bats. Pennell went 3 for 4 with a double and four runs batted in while Fisher doubled and scored three runs. Junior right fielder Rachael Risbon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) singled twice and scored three times while sophomore center fielder Cassie Narbe (Orchard Park, N.Y./Christian Central) singled in a pair of runs.

The Wolverines led 8-0 after two innings and after a single run in the third, Grove City put the game away with six runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Guyaux recorded her first shutout of the season in improving to 4-1. Pennell's shutout in the opener was the first for Grove City this season.

Grove City will visit Westminster Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader in New Wilmington, Pa.

Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

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