March 29, 2011
Grove City takes two from La Roche
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team improved to 7-5 overall Tuesday afternoon by sweeping a non-conference doubleheader with visiting La Roche at College Field. The Wolverines pulled out a 4-3, nine-inning victory in Game One and then secured a 3-1 win in the nightcap.
In the opener, sophomore third baseman Amanda Sheppeck (Butler, Pa./Knoch) singled in junior left fielder Elizabeth Covatto (Beaver, Pa./Beaver) with the game-winning run. Covatto had been placed at second base through execution of the international tiebreaker rule.
Grove City trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the sixth but quickly tied the game when senior second baseman Sarah Young (Knoxville, Tenn./Farragut) doubled and then scored on a triple from senior DP Faith Piper (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Central Catholic). Piper then scored the go-ahead run on a Covatto grounder.
La Roche forced extra innings when Kelsey Deem doubled in Cara Giannandrea with two outs in the top of the seventh.
Sheppeck went 2 for 4 in Game One while junior right fielder Grace Murtoff (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs) doubled.
Sophomore pitcher Lauren Clarke (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) earned the win after firing a complete game. She struck out five in nine innings.
In Game Two, senior pitcher Lauren Pennell (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley) paced Grove City by going 3 for 3 with a pair of doubles. Pennell also earned the pitching victory, allowing one run and two hits in six innings. She struck out six.
Grove City took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth when Pennell doubled and then scored on a squeeze bunt by senior shortstop Christine Slater (Aliquippa, Pa./Center). Pennell then doubled in Covatto and Sheppeck in the bottom of the sixth to give Grove City a 3-0 lead.
Sophomore pitcher Faith Jentsch (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) retired one batter in the seventh and Clarke earned the save by recording the final two outs of the game.
Grove City will host Allegheny Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader.
Game One Box Score Game Two Box Score
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