CLERMONT, Fla. – Grinnell College's softball team wrapped up a stellar spring break trip to Florida Friday with a pair of wins, and
Darice Wheeler '21 propelled herself to a school record in the process.
Wheeler belted three homers on the day as the Pioneers topped St. Lawrence University 7-1 and Kalamazoo College 6-3, giving her six round-trippers to tie the school record set by Amanda Stromquist in 2010.
The wins gave Grinnell a 6-1 mark on the trip that included big offensive and pitching numbers (see graphic below).
In the win over St. Lawrence, Wheeler was 3-for-3 at the plate while
Leila Bishop-Parise '21 and
Andi Leff '18 each had two hits. Wheeler homered and doubled in the game, while Davis also hit a home run.
Melissa Anderson '18 was sharp in pitching a complete game, giving up five hits and fanning two batters while issuing just one run.
Grinnell got all the runs it needed with two in the bottom of the first when Wheeler's homer to right field scored Bishop-Parise, who had singled.
The Pioneers tacked on four runs in the second which included a two-run double to left by Wheeler and RBI single to center by Bishop-Parise. Grinnell wrapped up its scoring in the third on Davis' solo homer to left.
St. Lawrence got its lone run in the fifth inning.
In the win over Kalamazoo, Davis had three hits including a home run and
Kayla Morrissey '18, Wheeler and Leff each had two hits.
Emily Jordan '19 contributed a double.
Grinnell scored in the first on Wheeler's solo homer to left, but Kalamazoo countered with a run in the bottom of the inning.
In the second,
Ashley Wehrenberg '19 hit a two-run single to center and Morrissey added an RBI single to left.
Kalamazoo came within 4-3 in the bottom of the third, but Grinnell closed out the win with solo runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Wheeler had a solo homer to center in the sixth and Davis a home run to left in the seventh.
Wheeler was the winning pitcher in relief, striking out six in four innings of hitless work.
Besides Wheeler taking the school lead for season homers, Davis is now tied for fourth with three.
On the career record board, Morrissey moved up to second in runs scored (79), fourth in at-bats (365) and fourth in assists (235).
Anderson, already Grinnell's career pitching leader in complete games with 40, moved up in an offensive category with 33 walks which is good for sixth.
Maggie Remus '18, who started pitching the second game, is sixth in career innings with 287 and tied for fifth in game started with 45.
Grinnell, 6-3, has its first home action of the season Tuesday when Iowa Conference power Simpson College visits. The first pitch of the twin bill is slated for 3 p.m.
| GC SPRING BREAK BY THE NUMBERS |
Grinnell |
Opponents |
| Record |
6-1 |
1-6 |
| Batting Average |
.324 |
.235 |
| Runs |
42 |
16 |
| RBIs |
39 |
14 |
| Home Runs |
11 |
1 |
| Slugging Percentage |
.570 |
.294 |
| On-Base Percentage |
.395 |
.280 |
| ERA |
1.68 |
4.96 |
