STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- The Grove City College softball team opened its 2021 road schedule Wednesday by splitting a non-conference doubleheader at fellow Presidents' Athletic Conference member Franciscan. The Wolverines won the opener, 9-0, before dropping Game Two 8-6. 

Senior pitcher Ashley Cornelius (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) fired a one-hit shutout in the opener for the Wolverines in the opener, improving to 3-0 on the season. Senior first baseman Haley Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton), senior DP Hannah Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) and freshman catcher Emily Smyth (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township) all homered in the victory.

Grove City trailed 8-0 in the nightcap before rallying. However, the comeback fell short as Grove City picked up its third consecutive split to open the season.

Cornelius struck out four and walked only batter in her shutout performance. She faced 23 batters, two over the minimum.

Hannah Dietz broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth when she launched a three-run homer. Smyth and junior center fielder Morgan Prouty (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) scored ahead of Dietz on the homer. 

Haley Dietz boosted the lead to 5-0 in the sixth inning when she belted a two-run homer that also scored sophomore pinch runner Clare Moran (Watertown, N.Y./Indian River). The Wolverines then added four more runs in the top of the seventh. Cornelius singled in sophomore third baseman Maddie Clark (West Sunbury, Pa./Moniteau) with the sixth run of the game. 

Smyth closed the scoring with a three-run clout that brought home Cornelius and junior second baseman Cara Polese (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest).

Clark finished with a pair of singles. Grove City had eight hits in the opener.

Smyth homered, doubled and singled in Game Two while Haley Dietz doubled and singled. Polese also doubled for the Wolverines. 

Grove City trailed 8-0 after three innings but broke through in the fourth as Smyth scored on a fielder's choice by freshman third baseman Maralee Caldana (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle Area). In the sixth, Haley Dietz singled in Moran and Clark later came in on a Caldana single. An error allowed Haley Dietz to score Grove City's fourth run. 

Freshman Lauren McNeil (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) cut the lead to 8-5 in the sixth by driving in Caldana with a sacrifice fly. Smyth's seventh-inning solo homer closed the scoring. 

Freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Constantino (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) took the defeat after allowing six runs in 1 1/3 innings. Sophomore Janessa Dawson (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley) yielded two runs in 4 2/3 innings of relief.

Grove City will visit Westminster for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday.