Demi Hart

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster was very competitive in the second game of its doubleheader with Denison University on Wednesday, as it took a tie into the seventh inning, but the Big Red scored two go-ahead runs and then escaped a Fighting Scot threat to earn a 4-2 victory in a late-season North Coast Athletic Conference match-up at Galpin Park. Denison also won the opener, 11-0.

Following game one, which saw Denison's (18-12, 8-4 NCAC) ace Rebecca Dyer limit Wooster (11-24, 3-11 NCAC) to just four hits while striking out 13, the Scots settled in and appeared poised to win the nightcap.

Wooster put a pair of runs on the scoreboard in the first inning, which got going behind a two-out double to left center from Demi Hart. Next up was Georgia Hill, who reached on an error, allowing Hart to come all the way around and score. Finally, Stephenie Little knocked Hill home with an RBI single that put Wooster ahead 2-0 in the early goings.

Hill pitched a solid game for the Scots, as she gave up just three harmless singles through the first three innings, but Denison took advantage of two fourth-inning errors by Wooster to knot the score at 2-2.

The score remained that way into the seventh inning, although Wooster nearly broke the game open in the sixth. With just one out, Hart singled and Hill doubled, putting runners on second and third, but the Scots were unable to plate a run.

Then in the seventh, Denison scored using a sacrifice fly and then a solo home run, giving it a two-run cushion entering the bottom of the frame.

Wooster produced another scoring threat in the bottom of the seventh, as Jenna Kendall and Taylor Raybuck each got on base to start the inning, but the Scots were put down in order after that to end the rally.

In the opener, Dyer was nearly untouchable, but Carly Schoenstein delivered a bloop single to center field to break up the no-hitter in the fourth inning. Linea Brouse, Hart, and Hill also hit singles against Dyer, but Denison's offense put up runs in bunches en route to a big win.

Hart led Wooster with three hits on the day, while Little and Hill each had two. Also noteworthy, Hart turned an impressive double play from center field in the nightcap, as she caught a deep liner and then gunned down a runner at first.

The Scots will look to end the season on a high note, beginning with their doubleheader tomorrow against non-conference foe Heidelberg University (21-11) at 3:30 p.m.