April 11, 2015

Wolverines split with W&J

GROVE CITY, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team used a seventh-inning rally to earn a game one victory and a doubleheader split with Presidents' Athletic Conference rival Washington and Jefferson on Saturday afternoon at the Grove City College Softball Field. The Wolverines (10-6, 2-3 PAC) scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh to win game one 5-4 before falling 4-1 in the nightcap.

Grove City's middle infield of senior shortstop Kelsey Shirey (Macedonia, Ohio/Nordonia) and senior second baseman Allison Rayburn (New Kensington, Pa./Valley) each posted three hits on the day to lead the Wolverine offense while sophomore pitcher Erika Aughton (Moon Township, Pa./Moon) earned victory on the mound.

In the opener, the Presidents (11-9, 4-4 PAC) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second and added single runs in the third and sixth innings to take a 4-0 lead into the final frame. Meanwhile, Grove City couldn't string anything together offensively, managing single hits in five of the first six innings.

Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Katie Watts (Sandy Lake, Pa./Lakeview) finally got things going for the Wolverines by leading off the bottom of the second with a single. After a flyout, Rayburn singled to move freshman Michaela Cashmer (Weedville, Pa./Elk County Catholic), who pinch ran for Watts, to second, and senior center fielder Caitlyn Vidovic (North Ridgeville, Ohio/Lutheran West) followed with a single of her own to load the bases.

Aughton stepped to the plate and drew an RBI-walk that scored Cashmer to get the Wolverines on the scoreboard, and Shirey followed with another single to score Rayburn and make it a 4-2 game. The Presidents' would make a pitching change but to no avail, as senior catcher Sarah Morris (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) was hit by a pitch to score Vidovic. Junior left fielder Megan Lynskey (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) then notched Grove City's fifth single of the inning to score Aughton and tie the game at 4-4.

With just one out and the bases still loaded, Grove City would score the game-winning run when sophomore third baseman Alaina Kunselman (New Bethlehem, Pa./Redbank Valley) reached on an Presidents' error, allowing Shirey to come around to score and end the game.

Watts went 2-for-2 in the game one victory while Shirey and Rayburn each added a pair of hits. Aughton settled in after a rough start, allowing 11 hits and four runs over seven innings to earn the win.

In game two, W&J once again got out to an early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first when Emily Watson hit an RBI-triple to score Sadie Marak. Grove City would answer, however, in the bottom of the second as Shirey led off the inning with a triple of her own and would beat the throw home to tie the score at 1-1 when Morris reached on a fielder's choice during the following at-bat.

After the Presidents reclaimed the lead at 2-1 in the top of the third, Grove City would threaten to answer once again, getting runners on the corners with just one out, but a pair of popup ended the inning. W&J would add single runs in the fifth and seventh innings while Grove City managed just two hits over the final four to seal the Presidents' victory and the doubleheader split.

Freshman utility Lauren Hughes (Twinsburg, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) led the Wolverine offense with two hits. Watts took the loss on the mound, allowing ten hits and four runs (three earned) over seven innings.

Grove City visits Waynesburg on Tuesday for a 3:30 p.m. conference doubleheader.

Game 1 Box Score   Game 2 Box Score

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