March 2, 2011

Wolverines conclude Florida trip

CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Grove City College softball team is 4-4 after splitting eight games at the National Training Center during winter break.

The Wolverines swept Concordia-Moorhead 8-0 and 5-0 February 23. The next day, Grove City again swept Concordia-Moorhead, 9-5 and 4-1.

Augustana (Ill.) took both ends of a doubleheader with the Wolverines February 25, 7-2 and 9-1. Grove City closed the trip Saturday, February 26 by dropping a split doubleheader with NAIA foes Davenport (6-3) and Michigan-Dearborn (2-0).

In Grove City's second sweep of Concordia, the Wolverines scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth en route to the 9-5 win in Game One. Junior outfielder Grace Murtoff (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs) and sophomore pitcher Lauren Clarke (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) each went 3 for 4. Clarke knocked in three runs while Murtoff scored twice and drove in two more runs.

Clarke pitched the final two innings and earned the relief victory. Senior Lauren Pennell (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) started and allowed two earned runs in five innings.

Clarke then threw six shutout innings in Game Two to earn her second win of the day. She struck out six and did not walk a batter. Offensively, Clarke went 2 for 2 while sophomore Amanda Sheppeck (Saxonburg, Pa./Knoch) doubled and singled. Freshman third baseman Janna Strodtman (Wheaton, Ill./Timothy Christian) drove in two runs.

Sheppeck belted a two-run homer in the opener against Augustana but four Grove City errors led to six unearned runs. Pennell yielded just one earned run in five innings while Strodtman threw two innings of scoreless relief. Grove City had just two hits offensively.

Freshman catcher Lauren Clifford (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) went 2 for 2 and senior outfielder Faith Piper (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic) doubled in Game Two against Augustana. Clarke and Sheppeck both pitched for Grove City with Clarke taking the setback.

Against Davenport Saturday, senior outfielder Brittany Young (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) tripled and singled and Pennell cracked two hits. Clarke threw a complete game, allowing five earned runs in seven innings.

Pennell also threw a complete game in the finale against Michigan-Dearborn, allowing only six hits in six innings. Senior Sarah Young (Knoxville, Tenn./Farragut) doubled for the Wolverines.

Murtoff hit .438 (7 for 16) during the trip while Clarke hit .421 (8 of 19). Sheppeck finished with three doubles and a homer while going 9 for 25 (.360).

Pennell recorded a 1.33 earned run average during the trip. Clarke went 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA.

Grove City will open the northern portion of the schedule March 22 at home against Pitt-Greensburg.

Concordia Game One Box Score         Concordia Game Two Box Score

Augustana Game One Box Score        Augustana Game Two Box Score

Davenport Box Score                         Michigan-Dearborn Box Score

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