HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- The Grove City College softball team opened its northern schedule Wednesday evening by taking both ends of a non-conference doubleheader at Houghton. Grove City pounded out 15 hits on the way to a 13-5 win in the opener. In Game Two, Grove City collected 11 hits as the Wolverines completed the sweep with a 5-3 win.

Grove City collected seven extra-base hits in Game One, including three doubles from junior catcher Emily Smyth (Lititz, Pa./Manheim Township). Smyth went 3 for 5 with four runs batted in to help pace Grove City in the opener. Sophomore third baseman Rachel Zona (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) had a career-best three hits in four at-bats. 

Sophomore second baseman Maci Linhart (Columbiana, Ohio/Columbiana) tripled, singled and scored three runs. Senior first baseman Janessa Dawson (Zanesville, Ohio/Tri-Valley) and junior DP Lauren Harris (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) both doubled and singled while junior left fielder Lauren McNeil (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) added a double.

All nine of Grove City's offensive starters scored at least one run and eight of the nine players had at least one hit. Sophomore right fielder Annika Rinehart (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) walked three times and did not have an official at-bat in Game One.

Grove City quickly grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Smyth doubled home Linhart. Smyth's two-run double in the second inning brought home Linhart and Dawson. McNeil then doubled in Smyth to give Grove City a 5-0 lead. 

Houghton whittled Grove City's lead to 7-5 in the third inning but the Wolverines countered with a three-run outburst in the fifth frame. Dawson and sophomore pinch runner Ella Krarup (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) scored on Linhart's triple while Smyth's third double of the game scored Linhart. 

Grove City sealed the win with three more runs in the top of the seventh. Senior shortstop Lexi Buck (Akron, Ohio/Lake Center Christian) singled in Harris and Zona followed with a single that scored McNeil. Buck later scored on an error.

Junior pitcher Kaitlyn Constantino (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) earned the win after giving up four earned runs in seven innings. She struck out six, improving to 3-3 on the season.

An unearned run in the bottom of the fourth gave Houghton a 1-0 lead in Game Two. Grove City quickly answered, though, as senior first baseman Michaela Ban (Kittanning, Pa./Armstrong) laced a game-tying single that scored Linhart. McNeil later scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

McNeil's three-run double in the sixth inning scored Linhart, Dawson and senior pinch runner Clare Moran (Watertown, N.Y./Indian River).

Ban, Dawson, Linhart and McNeil all had two hits in Game Two. Harris added a double. 

Dawson struck out eight in seven innings to earn the pitching victory. She yielded one walk and one earned run. 

Grove City (6-6) will host Mount Aloysius at 3 p.m. Thursday in non-conference action at College Field. It will be the Wolverines' home opener.