Grubb’s no-hitter in game one helps softball team win two mercy-rule games over Albion

OLIVET, Mich. – Junior Ashlynn Grubb threw the 12th no-hitter in school history in game one to help the Olivet College softball team open Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play with two mercy-rule wins over Albion College this afternoon at the Cutler Athletic Complex in Olivet. The Comets won the first game, 10-0, in five innings and the second game, 13-4, in six innings.

In the opener, Grubb threw only 58 pitches, 35 for strikes, and faced only the minimum 15 batters in the contest. She walked two batters, but the first one was called out for leaving first base early on a steal attempt and the second was thrown out trying to steal second base. Grubb struck out seven batters in the victory to improve to 9-1 on the season. In addition, she is the first pitcher in school history to throw two no-hitters.

Grubb helped her own cause at the plate by driving in the Comets' first two runs in the first inning on a two-run double to score sophomore Haley Reed and junior Kelsey Scheenks. Sophomore Larissa Ludwick then lined a 2-1 pitch deep over the fence to put Olivet up 4-0.

The Comets batted around in the sixth inning and scored six runs. Sophomore Konnor Geiger was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Back-to-back fielding errors on bunts brought in Geiger with the first run and put senior Sydney Tharp and freshman Dominique McKillop both in scoring position.

Reed reached on an infield single to score Tharp and advance Tharp to third. After Reed stole second, Scheenks roped a two-run single into the right-center field gap. Grubb singled to put two runners on base, and junior Cassie Chamberlain brought both home with a two-run double to left-center field.

At the plate, Olivet had nine hits. Chamberlain was 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI. Grubb and Scheenks also both went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Reed had two hits and scored two runs.

Due to conference rules, the Comets batted first in the nightcap. They wasted no time in scoring, as the put three runs on the scoreboard in the top half of the first inning. The first run was manufactured, as Reed reached on a single, went to second on Scheenks' sacrifice bunt and scored on junior Taylor Smith's double. Grubb followed with her own double to score Smith, and Ludwick capped the inning with an RBI-single to score Grubb.

The Britons plated a run in the bottom half of the first. Albion then took advantage of three Olivet errors to score three runs and take a 4-3 lead after two innings. The Comets ended the game by scoring 10 unanswered runs – one in the third, three in the fourth, one in the fifth and five in the sixth.

Junior Devon Mayse drove in the third-inning run on an infield single. In the fourth, Ludwick hit a two-run double and Geiger had an RBI-single. Reed scored the fifth-inning when a throw to the plate on Smith's batted ball was not in time.

Olivet sent 11 batters to the plate to score its five runs in the sixth inning. Sophomore Olivia Peraino drove in freshman Kristen Gressley with the first run. Mayse lined the first pitch she saw over the left fielder's head for a two-run double. A groundout brought in the fourth run of the inning. A pinch-hit single by junior Molly Renfroe plated Smith with the final run. The Britons were retired 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the sixth to end the game early due to the eight-run mercy rule.

At the plate, the Comets collected 15 total hits. Five players had multiple-hits, led by Reed and Ludwick who were each 3-for-5. Ludwick had three RBI. Geiger, Mayse and Smith finished with two hits apiece. Smith scored a team-best three runs and drove in a pair of runs, while Mayse had three RBI. Scheenks recorded three sacrifice bunts. Chamberlain earned the pitching win, giving up the four runs (one earned) on five hits and striking out five batters.

The Comets travel to play Hope College tomorrow afternoon in a rescheduled twinbill, starting at 3:30 p.m.

NOTES: With her three RBI, Grubb moved into third all-time at Olivet. She now has 68 career RBI, with the record being 76 by both Kacey Darling (2006-09) and Lauren Lenard (2011-14). Grubb has 38 career pitching wins to sit second all-time at Olivet. Scheenks' three sac bunts in game two moved her into second all-time and is four shy of breaking Shelly Burzycki's record of 27 from 1996-98.

NO-HITTERS IN OLIVET HISTORY

• Jan Bowers vs. Calvin (4/15/1980)
• Lurinda Henderson vs. Hope (4/23/1980)
• Marge Caid vs. Alma (4/27/1983)
• Ann Harding vs. Adrian (4/7/1984)
• Delores Thomas vs. Adrian (4/7/1984)
• Jessie Davenport vs. Saint Mary's (3/29/2000)
• Jenn Newland vs. Kalamazoo (4/6/2004)
• Erica Anderson vs. Kalamazoo (4/12/2005)
• Kim Green vs. Rochester (4/18/2005)
• Ashlynn Grubb vs. North Park, Ill. (3/12/2014)
• Delaney Maki vs. Elms, Mass. (3/8/2015)
• Ashlynn Grubb vs. Albion (4/13/2016)