Grubb’s perfect game helps softball team beat North Park and Mount Mary

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – Olivet College freshman Ashlynn Grubb (LaGrange, Ind./Lakeland) tossed the second perfect game in school history, as the softball team beat North Park (Ill.) University today at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. In their second game, the Comets posted a season-high for runs in an 18-2 win over Mount Mary (Wis.) University.

Against North Park, Olivet scored the only runs it would need in the first inning. Junior Ashley Milheim (Eaton Rapids) led off the frame with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on senior Alyssa Nielsen's (Greenville) double. Nielsen then scored on a RBI-single by senior Lauren Lenard (Dimondale/Lansing Catholic).

The Comets added a single tally in the fourth inning when freshman Devon Mayse (Adrian/Madison) hit a double to score Lenard. Olivet pushed across four more runs in the fifth inning. Grubb singled home Nielsen, who led off with a triple. Freshman Jessica Palumbo (Oxford) drove in Grubb with a single. Senior Terri Hurosky (Nashville/Maple Valley) scored on a double steal, and Palumbo crossed the plate on Mayse's sacrifice fly.

The Comets manufactured their final run in the sixth to end the game early because of the eight-run mercy rule. Nielsen singled. Freshman Chantel Johnston (Williamston) entered the game to run for her, and came around to score on Hurosky's single.

In the circle, Grubb was masterful. She threw 67 pitches and 47 were for strikes, recording eight strikeouts. The defense behind Grubb was stellar to keep the perfect game intact. At the plate, Nielsen was 4-for-4 with a single, a double, two triples and two runs scored. Hurosky and Milheim each had three hits. Lenard went 2-for-2. Six other Comets scored one run apiece.

Against Mount Mary, Olivet scored five runs in the first, eight runs in the second and five runs in the third to take a commanding 18-0 lead. The Blue Angels scored twice in the fourth, but the game still ended after five innings because of the mercy rule.

Batting out of the leadoff position in the lineup, Milheim had a 4-for-4 performance to go along with four runs scored and four RBI. Mayse and freshman Kelsey Scheenks (Bronson) both went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Mayse also drove in a pair of runs. Palumbo collected two hits and two RBI. Grubb had a hit and brought in two runs in her only plate appearance.

Freshman Christine Wood (East Lansing/Haslett) scored two runs. Freshman Molly Renfroe (Homer) had her first hit of the season.

Freshman Morgan Stratton (Grand Blanc) tossed three hitless innings to start the game, earning her fifth win of the season. She struck out six batters, with the only base runner reaching on a walk to leadoff the third inning. Sophomore Kaelin Cross (Laingsburg) pitched the fourth inning and gave up two earned runs on two hits and two walks. Sophomore Kaitlyn Pirochta (Laingsburg/Perry) pitched a hitless inning of relief.

The Comets will play their final two games in Florida tomorrow morning. At 9 a.m., Olivet will face Eastern Nazarene (Mass.) College, followed by a game versus Stevens Institute (N.J.) of Technology.

NOTES: The only perfect game in school history was by Marge Caid vs. Alma College on April 27, 1983. Grubb has only not allowed an earned run in 22 and one-third innings, and has a 0.28 ERA with 48 strikeouts. Stratton has given up only 13 hits and zero runs in 28 innings. Nielsen has recorded a .600 batting average to go along with five triples and one double for a 1.150 slugging percentage. Her five triples already ties the single-season school record. Milheim is hitting .548. As a team, Olivet has a .416 batting average, and opponents are hitting .116 and scored five runs in nine games.