April 1, 2013

Grove City opens season in Florida

CLERMONT, Fla. -- After having its first three doubleheaders in March postponed by inclement weather, the Grove City College softball team opened the 2013 season over Easter Break by competing in eight games at the National Training Center.

Grove City closed the trip March 27 by splitting a split doubleheader. The Wolverines pulled out a 4-1 win over Southern Maine in eight innings before closing the trip with a 12-1 setback against Loras.

The trip began March 23 with a 12-1 loss to Concordia (Wis.). Grove City also dropped an 11-2 decision to Middlebury in the second game of the trip.

On Monday, March 25, Elmhurst pulled out a 5-4 win over the Wolverines. Grove City then fell in eight innings to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 8-1. The next day, Carthage downed Grove City 7-0 and State University of New York-New Paltz decisioned the Wolverines, 12-11.

Against Southern Maine, Grove City scored three runs in the top of the eighth to earn the win. Freshman left fielder Megan Lynskey (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) doubled in sophomore catcher Sarah Morris (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) and then scored on a single from freshman third baseman Casey Woodcock (Oneida, N.Y./Oneida).

Senior pitcher Lauren Clarke (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) also doubled and singled. Lynskey and Woodcock both went 2 for 4. Clarke earned the win after allowing one run and seven hits in eight innings. She struck out three and walked just one.

Loras broke open the day's second game by scoring nine runs in the fourth inning. Sophomore shortstop Kelsey Shirey (Macedonia, Ohio/Macedonia) went 2 for 2. Senior Faith Jentsch (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) started in the circle and took the setback. She pitched 3 1/3 innings. Freshman Emily Rothbard (Bel Air, Md./Bel Air) recorded the final two outs of the fourth and Clarke pitched the fifth.

Shirey went 2 for 2 in the opener against Concordia. Clarke pitched four innings and allowed five earned runs. Four Grove City errors led to seven unearned runs. Rothbard pitched one inning. Morris laced a double against Middlebury while Jentsch, Rothbard and Clarke all pitched. Jentsch took the setback.

Elmhurst scored with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to break a 4-4 tie in the March 25 opener. Woodcock doubled and singled to help pace the Wolverine offense. Jentsch threw a complete game for Grove City.

M.I.T. scored seven unearned runs in the top of the eighth inning in the nightcap. Grove City had forged a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning when Woodcock doubled in Morris. Morris and Woodcock both went 2 for 3. Clarke struck out six in eight innings but suffered the defeat.

Jentsch threw a complete game against No. 20 Carthage March 26. Carthage led 2-0 entering the seventh but sewed up the win with five runs in its final at bat.

Sophomore second baseman Allison Rayburn (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) paced Grove City against New Paltz by going 3 for 5 with three runs scored. Shirey doubled, singled and scored three runs while Morris doubled, singled and scored twice. Clarke and sophomore center fielder Erica Gmuer (Gibsonia, Pa./Hampton) both had two hits. Clarke knocked in three runs and Gmuer scored twice.

Clarke pitched six innings and yielded five earned runs. She struck out four.

Shirey hit .333 (8 for 24) during the trip and scored a team-high six runs. Clarke drove in a team-leading four. Clarke led the pitching staff with a 2.75 earned run average.

Grove City will host La Roche Tuesday at 3:30 in a non-conference doubleheader. Presidents' Athletic Conference play begins Thursday with a 3:30 doubleheader at Chatham.

Concordia (Wis.) Box Score                Middlebury Box Score                Elmhurst Box Score                M.I.T. Box Score

Carthage Box Score                           S.U.N.Y.-New Paltz Box Score    Southern Maine Box Score      Loras Box Score

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