April 12, 2012

Grove City rallies for split at Allegheny

MEADVILLE, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team rallied from a late four-run deficit in Game Two of its non-conference doubleheader Thursday to earn an 8-7 win over host Allegheny at Robertson Field. The win gave Grove City a split as Allegheny captured the opener 12-2.

Grove City (14-16) trailed 6-2 entering the top of the sixth inning in the nightcap but rallied to score six runs. Junior DP Emily Reece (Frederick, Md./Thomas Johnson) opened the inning with a walk and later scored the first run of the inning when senior second baseman Sarah Young (Knoxville, Tenn./Farragut) walked with the bases load.

Grove City slashed the lead to 6-5 when freshman shortstop Kelsey Shirey (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) cracked a two-run double that scored freshman third baseman Allison Rayburn (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) and senior center fielder Elizabeth Covatto (Beaver, Pa./Beaver).

The Wolverines then pulled ahead when senior left fielder Allison Eastham (Wintersville, Ohio/Indian Creek) drove in Young and Shirey with a two-run single. Eastham scored the final run of the inning on a groundout by junior first baseman Lauren Clarke (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell).

Allegheny (18-7) cut the lead to 8-7 in the bottom of the sixth and had the tying run at third in the seventh. However, junior pitcher Faith Jentsch (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) retired the side to secure the win.

Jentsch allowed two earned runs over seven innings. She struck out four. Freshman Caitlyn Vidovic (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Lutheran East) pitched to three batters in relief.

Grove City fell behind 2-0 in the first but quickly tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Reece walked with the bases loaded, scoring senior left fielder Grace Murtoff (Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs). Covatto later singled in Clarke.

Young and freshman catcher Sarah Morris (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) both doubled for the Wolverines, who had 12 total hits. Murtoff went 2 for 2 while Covatto, Clarke and Shirey all went 2 for 4.

Allegheny took command of the first game by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the sixth. Clarke homered for Grove City in the top of the sixth while Rayburn went 2 for 3.

Clarke pitched 5 1/3 innings and took the defeat for the Wolverines.

Grove City returns to Presidents' Athletic Conference play Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Wolverines host league foe Waynesburg.

Game One Box Score            Game Two Box Score

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