NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- The Grove City College softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Westminster in a meeting of Presidents' Athletic Conference rivals. Westminster won the opener, 7-0, then pulled out a 10-7 victory in the second game. The games are considered non-conference and do not count toward the league standings.

Grove City posted six runs in the sixth inning of Game Two after Westminster had jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Freshman third baseman Maralee Caldana (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle Area) highlighted the comeback effort by launching a three-run home run that also scored senior right fielder Hannah Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) and freshman DP Emily Smyth (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township). 

Caldana's home run, the first of her collegiate career, cut Westminster's lead to 7-5. 

Grove City then cut the lead to 7-6 when junior shortstop Lexi Buck (Akron, Ohio/Lake Center Christian) reached on an error and freshman Lauren McNeil (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) scored on the play. 

However, Westminster answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, senior pitcher Ashley Cornelius (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) singled in sophomore pinch runner Maddie Clark (West Sunbury, Pa./Moniteau), closing the scoring.

Junior second baseman Cara Polese (San Diego, Calif./Canyon Crest) helped pace Grove City's nine-hit attack by going 2 for 3.

Sophomore pitcher Janessa Dawson (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley) started and allowed four earned runs in five innings. Dawson took the setback. Sophomore Mariah Francis (Randolph, Ohio/Waterloo) and Cornelius both pitched in the sixth inning in relief. Francis retired one batter and Cornelius pitched 2/3 scoreless inning.

Caldana, Clark, Cornelius, Dietz and Polese all had singles in Game One for Grove City. Cornelius pitched a complete game but absorbed the defeat. She struck out three over six innings of work in the circle.

Grove City (3-5) will visit Washington & Jefferson for a doubleheader Thursday at 3:30 p.m.