April 23, 2010

Wolverines take two at Behrend

ERIE, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team picked up its second doubleheader sweep in as many days Friday afternoon as the Wolverines earned two wins in non-conference action at Penn State Behrend. Grove City pulled out a 1-0 win in the opener and then secured an 8-5 victory in the nightcap.

In the opener, junior pitcher Lauren Pennell (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) fired a four-hit shutout in the circle. Pennell yielded just four singles and only one walk in seven innings.

Pennell also scored the lone run of the game in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Pennell reached base on a hit batsman. After a single by sophomore right fielder Grace Murtoff (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs), freshman catcher Olivia Klimek (Oakdale, Pa./South Fayette) roped a run-scoring single that drove in Pennell.

Grove City had just three hits in Game One as Pennell also singled in the win. Neither team had an extra-base hit.

The Wolverines (12-19 overall) racked up 11 hits in the nightcap as four Wolverines posted multi-hit outings. Sophomore DH Leeza Covatto (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) paced Grove City by going 3 for 4 while freshman third baseman Amanda Sheppeck (Butler, Pa./Knoch) doubled and singled.

Senior center fielder Heidi Lohr (Lititz, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) and junior shortstop Christine Slater (Aliquippa, Pa./Center) both went 2 for 4. Lohr scored twice.

Grove City broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the third inning with a four-run outburst. Freshman right fielder Brittany Barrett (East Liverpool, Ohio/Beaver Local) drove in one run with a fielder's choice and junior left fielder Brittany Young (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) extended the lead to 5-3 with a sacrifice fly.

Junior second baseman Sarah Young (Knoxville, Tenn./Farragut) capped the inning with a two-run single.

Freshman Lauren Clarke (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) earned the pitching win by allowing five runs in four innings. She struck out three. Sheppeck pitched a perfect fifth inning and Pennell recorded the save with two scoreless innings of relief. Pennell set a new single-season Grove City record with her third save of 2010.

Penn State Behrend is now 14-16.

Grove City will host Waynesburg Tuesday in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at 3:30 p.m.

Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

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