April 30, 2011

Wolverines split with Thiel

GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team moved to 17-15 overall Saturday afternoon by splitting a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at Thiel. After dropping a 4-2 decision in the opener, Grove City rebounded for a 9-1, six-inning victory in Game Two.

The Wolverines took command of Game Two by scoring five runs in the third inning. Grove City then sewed up the win by scoring twice in the fifth and sixth innings.

Grove City took a 2-0 lead in the third when freshman catcher Lauren Clifford (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) doubled in senior shortstop Christine Slater (Aliquippa, Pa./Center). Clifford then scored on a single by sophomore third baseman Amanda Sheppeck (Butler, Pa./Knoch).

Two Thiel errors led to three more runs in the inning.

Grove City extended its lead to 7-1 in the sixth. Sheppeck led off with a single and moved to third on a double from senior pitcher Lauren Pennell (Zelienople, Pa./Seneca Valley). Freshman DP Casey Schmidt (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg) singled in Sheppeck and junior right fielder Grace Murtoff (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs) drove in Pennell with a base hit.

Slater singled and scored on an error in the sixth while Schmidt's run-scoring double knocked in Pennell, closing the scoring.

Schmidt went 3 for 4 while Murtoff and Sheppeck both went 2 for 3. Pennell threw a complete game to earn the win. She allowed just one run and three hits while walking none.

In the opener, Grove City took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Sheppeck doubled and later scored on Schmidt's sacrifice fly. Thiel scored twice in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good, however. Thiel extended the lead to 4-1 entering the seventh but Grove City pulled closer when sophomore Emily Reese (Frederick, Md./Thomas Johnson) doubled in Murtoff.

However, Grove City stranded two runers in scoring position to end the game.

Sophomore pitcher Lauren Clarke (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) pitched five innings and allowed four earned runs. She took the defeat. Sophomore Faith Jentsch (Orchard Park, Pa./Orchard Park) pitched a scoreless sixth in relief.

Grove City will conclude the regular season Tuesday at Waynesburg. The Wolverines must sweep Waynesburg to have a chance to earn the fourth and final berth in the season-ending conference tournament.

Game One Box Score                Game Two Box Score

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