GROVE CITY — All Lauren Pennell wanted to do was play softball.

She got her wish, and then some.

Pennell, a Seneca Valley High graduate, was recruited heavily by Grove City College softball coach Chelle Fuss to help fill a vacant pitching staff.

Fuss landed two freshman hurlers, Pennell and Center High graduate Kim Guyaux, and planned to split their time in the circle evenly.

But those plans changed in a hurry before the season started.

Guyaux came down with mononucleosis. That left Pennell as the only pitcher on the roster.

"It was tough, real tough," Pennell said. "It was hard to pitch one game of a doubleheader and know I had to pitch the other game, too. But my teammates were really supportive and encouraging."

Pennell needed the encouragement.

She pitched 58 of the team's first 66 innings, spelled only by shortstop Amy Fisher.

Pennell is 1-8, but sports a respectable 4.59 ERA.

"Unfortunately, we almost used her too much," Fuss said. "She pitched eight straight games in Florida. But she never once wavered at all. She gave all she had."

Guyaux returned from her illness to pitch the second game of a doubleheader against Washington & Jefferson Tuesday and earned the win.

Pennell pitched well in the opening-game loss to the Presidents, giving the 2-12 Wolverines cause for renewed hope.

"I've seen (Pennell and Guyaux) play quite a bit, and I think they complement each other well," Fuss said. "I had two top recruits last year in Lauren and Kim, and I ended up getting them both."

Pennell is used to sharing time in the circle after doing so with Courtney Grootegoed last season at Seneca Valley.

"We're really supportive of each other," Pennell said. "We're friends. She lives in the same hall as I do, so I see her a lot. We're competitive, but it isn't a nasty competition. We want to match each other and do well."

With all the innings she has logged already this season, Pennell has adjusted quickly to college softball.

"Everyone can hit at this level," Pennell said. "I think the more I pitch, the more I get used to it. I got beat up a little bit early, but I'm getting better."

Pennell expected to be a key member of the pitching staff this season, but she didn't expect to be one of the anchors of the lineup as well.

The former Raider is the Wolverines' leading hitter, batting at a .393 clip with four doubles and a .536 slugging percentage.

Her emergence as a power hitter is even more perplexing because of her struggles at the plate last season with SV.

One minor adjustment has made all the difference.

"I was turning my hips too early and losing power," Pennell said. "I developed a couple of bad habits."

Now that those habits have been broken, Fuss has found herself a double threat.

"She's really driving the ball," Fuss said. "The thing with her is you tell her something once and she's like a sponge. She does it. Pennell has impressed me so much already."