LATROBE, Pa. -- Midway through the Presidents' Athletic Conference schedule, the Grove City College softball team owned a 3-7 league record and the Wolverines' hopes of qualifying for the conference tournament seemed grim at best. But over the next fortnight, the Wolverines reversed their fortunes by winning seven of eight conference games. That surge put Grove City in position to clinch one of the six tournament berths with a win Friday at Saint Vincent.

The Wolverines left no questions concerning their spot in next week's tournament by sweeping Friday's doubleheader at Saint Vincent. Grove City (23-15, 12-8 PAC) belted the Bearcats in Game One, 15-1, then rolled to a 6-2 victory in the nightcap. 

Friday's victories give Grove City a program-record 23 wins this season. The Wolverines will be the No. 4 or No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, which starts next Wednesday. 

Grove City jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning of Game One, then took full control of the game with a seven-run outburst in the top of the fourth inning. Junior right fielder Annika Rinehart (McDonald, Pa./Fort Cherry) launched a grand slam in the first inning to cap the six-run explosion. Junior first baseman Brooke Brodie (Mogadore, Ohio/Mogadore), freshman DP Alexis Jackson (Coventry Township, Ohio/Coventry) and freshman left fielder Evelyn Montone (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) scored on Rinehart's blast, her first collegiate home run.

Rinehart then hit her second collegiate home run two innings later as her two-run clout pushed Grove City's lead to 8-0. 

In the fourth, freshman pitcher Abigail Meadors (Warren, Ohio/Champion) laced a two-run single that scored Jackson and Montone. Rinehart's groundout scored freshman pinch runner Abby Stouffer (Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim). Senior catcher Lauren Harris (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) scored on a passed ball while Brodie scored on an error. Sophomore center fielder Noel Anthony (Clarion, Pa./Clarion) also scored on an error. 

Brodie doubled, singled and scored three runs while Harris finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Jackson, Linhart and Montone also scored twice. 

Meadors earned her 10th win after striking out eight batters in five innings. She allowed one run. 

Grove City broke a 2-2 tie in the second inning of Game Two when Anthony scored on a groundout by sophomore shortstop Rylie Eaton (Grove City, Pa./Grove City). In the fourth inning, Harris doubled the lead when her groundout brought home Anthony. 

The Wolverines sewed up the win by scoring twice in the top of the seventh. Brodie doubled in Jackson and then scored on an error. 

Anthony tripled twice while Brodie cracked a pair of doubles. Montone doubled and singled while Jackson added a double. 

Brodie earned the pitching win by throwing four scoreless innings of relief. Meadors started and allowed two runs over three innings. 

The site of the conference tournament and the final tournament seeding will be determined after Saturday's conference action.