March 22, 2009

Wolverines open PAC play with sweep

PITTSBURGH -- The Grove City College softball team opened Presidents' Athletic Conference play Saturday afternoon by sweeping host Chatham. Grove City earned an 11-2 win in the opener, then recorded a 9-5 triumph in Game Two. The wins snap a four-game slide for the Wolverines (6-7, 2-0 PAC).

In the opener, Grove City broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the fourth as junior catcher Jessica Hodge (Grove City, Pa./Grove City) and freshman DH Grace Murtoff (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs) both cracked run-scoring singles.

Grove City then broke the game open with a five-run sixth inning. Senior first baseman Kelley Smith (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) highlighted the inning with a three-run double. The Wolverines added two runs in the seventh as freshman shortstop Amanda Furmage (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut) launched a two-run homer.

Murtoff tied the game at 2-2 in the second inning with a two-run double.

Junior center fielder Heidi Lohr (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) went 3 for 5 for the Wolverines while Smith finished 3 for 3. Furmage also singled in the opener while sophomore left fielder Brittany Young (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) and sophomore third baseman Christine Slater (Aliquippa, Pa./Center) both had a pair of hits.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Pennell (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) earned the win after allowing one earned run and four hits in seven innings. She blanked Chatham over the final six innings. Pennell fanned four and issued just two walks.

In Game Two, Grove City fell behind 4-1 early before assembling a five-run outburst in the bottom of the second. Pennell, Hodge and sophomore DH Faith Piper (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) all had run-scoring singles in the inning while Furmage recorded a sacrifice fly.

Nine different Wolverines collected at least one hit in the nightcap. Pennell and Slater both had a pair of hits while senior second baseman Amy Fisher (Streetsboro, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) rapped a double. Slater and Young both scored twice while Furmage drove in two runs.

Pennell picked up her second win of the day by allowing two earned runs in seven innings. She permitted just six hits.

Grove City will host Pitt-Greensburg Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. It is the start of a six-game homestand for the Wolverines. 

Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

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