April 24, 2008

Grove City sweeps Thiel, runs win streak to five

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team extended its win streak to five games Thursday afternoon by sweeping visiting Thiel, 1-0 and 11-2, in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at College Field. Grove City is now 11-21 overall and 4-8 in the PAC.

Freshman pitcher Lauren Pennell (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) fired a four-hit shutout in the opener while in Game Two, Grove City belted 15 hits.

Grove City scored the lone run of the opener in the bottom of the third when junior right fielder Rachael Risbon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) singled and subsequently scored on a double from junior second baseman Amy Fisher (Streetsboro, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian).

Thiel put runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the fourth but Pennell worked out of the jam by striking out the side. Pennell finished with five strikeouts and just one walk.

Grove City collected six hits in the opener, including a pair of singles from sophomore third baseman Laura Miller (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield). Miller then doubled and singled in Game Two as seven Grove City players posted multi-hit games.

Pennell went 3 for 5 with a double and three runs batted in while senior catcher Abby Greiner (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) doubled, singled and drove in three runs. Freshman shortstop Christine Slater (Aliquippa, Pa./Center) also doubled, singled and scored twice. Fisher, senior left fielder Kristen Hughes (Volant, Pa./Grove City) and senior first baseman Kelley Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) all singled twice. Fisher also scored three runs.

The Wolverines put the game away in the top of the seventh as Pennell roped a two-run single and Greiner followed later with a two-run double. Grove City also posted four runs in the third, breaking a 2-2 tie.

Freshman pitcher Kim Guyaux (Monaca, Pa./Center) improved to 7-5 with the victory. Guyaux did not allow an earned run in seven innings in the circle. She allowed just seven hits and did not walk a batter.

With the wins, Grove City also eliminated Thiel (10-19, 4-8 PAC) from contention in the battle for a spot in the season-ending PAC Championship Tournament.

Grove City will wrap up PAC play Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. with a home doubleheader against Chatham.

Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

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