BETHANY, W.Va. -- The Grove City College softball team capped the 2022 regular season Saturday afternoon by splitting a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at Bethany. Bethany scratched out a 3-2 win in Game One but Grove City rebounded for an 8-4 win in the nightcap. Grove City (16-16 overall) closes the conference schedule with a 10-8 league record. It is the first time in program history that Grove City has reached 10 wins in conference play.

Grove City bolted to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of Game Two. Senior first baseman Haley Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) knocked in junior pitcher Janessa Dawson (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley) with a fielder's choice and senior right fielder Hannah Dietz (Allison Park, Pa./Hampton) followed by singling in freshman second baseman Maci Linhart (Columbiana, Ohio/Columbiana). 

Senior shortstop Lexi Buck (Akron, Ohio/Lake Center Christian) then rapped a two-run single that scored the Dietz sisters. 

Freshman Ella Krarup (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) scored on an error in the third, giving the Wolverines a 5-2 lead. Sophomore catcher Lauren Harris (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) reclaimed Grove City's four-run lead by singling home sophomore left fielder Lauren McNeill (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian). 

Grove City added a pair of runs in the fifth as McNeil singled in sophomore third baseman Maralee Caldana (Milesburg, Pa./Bald Eagle Area). Later in the inning, Harris squeezed home McNeil.

Dawson finished 2 for 3. Buck, McNeil and Harris, Grove City's 7-8-9 hitters, each had two runs batted in.

Dawson earned the pitching win by striking out seven in seven innings. She allowed two earned runs, eight hits and did not walk a batter.

Dawson tied Game One, 2-2, with a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning but Bethany (19-14, 12-6 PAC) broke the tie in the bottom of the inning.

Sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Constantino (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) threw a complete game for Grove City. She allowed two earned runs in six innings. Constantino struck out four and walked one. Bethany pitcher Josie Wise threw a one-hitter. 

Grove City will be the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. The Wolverines will face No. 6 Geneva at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the play-in round of the tournament at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa. The Grove City-Geneva winner will then play No. 4 Saint Vincent in Tuesday's second game.

The winner of the second game will earn the fourth spot in the double-elimination portion of the tournament, which will be held Thursday and Friday in New Wilmington.