April 29, 2009

Wolverines split twinbill

ERIE, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with host Penn State Behrend (30-6) Thursday afternoon. Grove City dropped the opener 8-3 but rebounded for a 3-2 win in the nightcap. The opener started at Grove City Tuesday but rain interrupted the doubleheader and forced it to be completed at Behrend Park Wednesday.

Grove City (16-19) broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning of Game Two as freshman shortstop Amanda Furmage (Conneaut, Ohio/Conneaut) doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored the eventual game-winner on a sacrifice fly from senior second baseman Amy Fisher (Streetsboro, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian).

After falling behind 1-0 early, the Wolverines took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Senior first baseman Kelley Smith (Glenshaw, Pa./Shaler) tied the game with an RBI groundout while sophomore pinch hitter Faith Piper (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) followed with a run-scoring single.

Furmage doubled twice in the victory while sophomore third baseman Christine Slater (Aliquippa, Pa./Center) also doubled. Both Slater and Furmage went 2 for 3.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Pennell (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) earned the win after allowing two runs over seven innings. She struck out three and walked three.

In the opener, Grove City took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first Tuesday. Fisher clubbed a two-run homer while Slater followed with a triple. Slater then scored on a single from freshman DH Elizabeth Covatto (Beaver, Pa./Beaver).

However, Behrend cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth before the rain came. When the game resumed Wednesday, the Lions scored twice more in the inning to take the lead for good. Behrend added four more runs in the sixth to sew up the win.

Pennell struck out six in seven innings but took the defeat. She allowed 10 hits and five earned runs.

Grove City will wrap up the 2009 season Thursday against La Roche at 4 p.m.

Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

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