MISENHEIMER, N.C. -- The Grove City College baseball team opened the 2026 season by earning a 12-7 non-conference victory Friday afternoon over host Pfeiffer (0-2) at Joe Farabee Field. The Wolverines pounded out 14 hits, with three men lacing three hits each. 

Senior first baseman Colin Marinpetro (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) helped pace the offensive attack by going 3 for 6 with a two-run home run. Junior DH Dan Luko (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) finished 3 for 4 while freshman catcher Johnny Reyes (Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard) also had three hits in his collegiate debut. 

Junior left fielder David Chandler (Leesburg, Va./St. John's) doubled and singled while sophomore right fielder Braeden Coyle (Pittsburgh, Pa./Upper Saint Clair) singled and drove in three runs.

Marinpetro's two-run home run in the top of the first gave Grove City an early lead. Luko and junior second baseman Adam Weber (McKees Rocks, Pa./Montour) both cracked run-scoring singles in the third inning as Grove City assumed a 7-3 lead. 

Coyle's two-run single in the fifth inning pushed the lead to 9-3. Chandler then scored on a squeeze bunt by senior shortstop Raymond Stierer (Sewickley, Pa./Eden Christian). Marinpetro and Reyes followed with run-scoring singles that boosted Grove City's lead to 12-3.

Luko scored three times while Marinpetro, Weber and senior center fielder Nick Sampson (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township) all scored twice.

Senior pitcher Kenny Lavrich (Franklin, Pa./Cranberry) earned the win by allowing three runs in six innings. He struck out four and allowed four hits. Juniors Jack Houston (Vienna, Va./Vienna) and Wil Peters (Mesa, Ariz./Westwood) combined for the seventh inning in relief. 

Freshman Graham Romer (New Albany, Ohio/New Albany) closed out the win with two scoreless innings of relief. 

The Wolverines will play twice Saturday at Pfeiffer. Grove City meets Hampden-Sydney at 11 a.m., then plays Maryville (Tenn.) at 2:30 p.m.