Pioneers Turn in Solid Performances During MWC Classic

The Grinnell College softball team wrapped up a strong performance at the 2007 Midwest Conference Softball Classic this past Sunday and Monday. The team went 3-0 on Sunday before losing a pair of tough contests to end the Classic on Monday.

In the opener versus Beloit, the Pioneers trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. Kim Durinick '09 got the rally started with a one-out single before advancing to second on a ground out by Madison Salander '08. Emily Stewart '08 doubled home Durinick to pull Grinnell to within 5-4 before Darcy Ward '09 put the finishing touches on the victory with a walk-off two-run home run.

Ward finished the game going 4-for-4 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored. Along with her home run, she added a double and a stolen base. Durinick and Stewart each finished with two hits and a pair of runs scored with Stewart also adding a pair of RBI. Tess Cohen '09 picked up her first victory of the season in relief, going the final three innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits. Lee Anne Steinberg '07 got the start and went four innings, allowing two unearned runs on just one hit, while striking out five.

Game two versus Lawrence was a pitcher's dual until Lawrence got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was Ward playing long ball once again, this time in the sixth inning, when she blasted a two-run home run with one out, giving the Pioneers the 2-1 lead.

The Vikings threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning with a lead-off double. Following back-to-back strikeouts, Lawrence loaded the bases with a pair of walks, but Cohen would get the final hitter to ground out, giving the Pioneers the 2-1 victory.

Chloe Moryl '10 turned in a 2-for-3 performance, including a double, while five others finished with one hit. Cohen picked up her second win in as many games, this one also in relief, as she went the final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four. Steinberg got the start and went four innings, giving up just the one run on three hits and striking out three.

In the battle of the Pioneers in game three, Grinnell wasted no time, jumping out to a 2-0 lead after just one-half inning. The score remained that way until the team added three big insurance runs in the fifth and one more in the sixth to wrap up the victory. Carroll scored its two runs in the bottom half of the seventh.

Ward turned in her third straight solid performance, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored to lead the way for the Pioneers. Sandra King '08 also recorded a pair of hits and scored two runs for Grinnell, while Stewart and Caroline Stayer '10 chipped in with one RBI apiece.

Kolbe got her second start on the mound this season and went 6.1 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and striking out five, en route to her first victory of the season. Steinberg went the final 0.2 of the inning and recorded one strikeout.

Ripon handed the Pioneers their first loss of the Classic, as it scored a pair of runs in the top half of the seventh inning to grab the win. In what was a classic pitcher's dual throughout, the teams combined for just six hits.

Salander finished with two of the four Pioneer hits in the contest, with Cohen and Julia Reese '10 adding the other two. Steinberg went the distance on the mound and suffered the hard-luck loss. She allowed both runs on just two hits, to go along with four strikeouts.

St. Norbert took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning in the finale of the Classic and that wound up being enough as the Green Knights held on for a 6-1 victory. The Pioneers scored a run in the top of the sixth to pull to within 3-1, but St. Norbert closed the book with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

Durinick led the team offensively with a pair of hits, while Megan Germer '08 added a hit and an RBI. Cohen also chipped in with a hit and scored the lone run, while Stewart added a double.

Cohen suffered the loss for Grinnell, going three innings, allowing two runs (both earned) on four hits and striking out two. Kolbe came on in relief and went the final three innings, allowing four runs on three hits.

The Pioneers now stand at 5-9 overall (3-2 MWC) and will return to action on Friday afternoon when they travel to Knox for a 3:00 p.m., MWC doubleheader.

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