Demi Hart

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster made an exciting comeback in its second game with Allegheny College, as it escaped an early six-run hole to take a 9-6 lead, but the Gators clawed back to steal the victory in extra innings, 10-9, as part of their doubleheader sweep over the Fighting Scots on Wednesday at Galpin Park. Allegheny took game one by a 3-0 count.

The Scots' best chance to score during the opener came in the sixth inning, when they loaded the bases with just one out, but Allegheny's Caitlin Nealer escaped the jam on her way to a complete game shutout.

Things weren't looking much better early on in the nightcap, as Wooster (14-12, 5-3 NCAC) trailed 6-0 through three innings, but then the bats started heating up.

Jenna Kendall hit a two-run double to center field in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 6-2.

That was just the spark the Scots needed, as they carried over their momentum into the fifth inning where they scored seven runs to take a 9-6 lead.

One key moment was when Demi Hart plated a pair with a standup triple to deep left center, which pulled Wooster within one at 6-5. Later in the inning, Paige Goldberg drove in two more when she smacked a hard-hit single through the left side, giving the Scots their first lead of the afternoon, 7-6.

Linea Brouse got in on the action, too, as the reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week struck a single into left field, driving in another two, and giving Wooster its previously mentioned 9-6 advantage.

The Gators (9-9, 4-4 NCAC) kept chipping away, though, scoring once in the sixth, twice in the seventh, and the game-winner in the eighth, while Wooster's offense was stymied once again by Nealer, who entered in relief and didn't allow a hit over the last three innings to earn her second win of the day.

Overall, Brouse, Hart, and Stephenie Little each collected three hits during the doubleheader, with Hart's all coming during a standout effort in the nightcap.

Also noteworthy, Maddy Chase followed up yesterday's complete game shutout over Ohio Wesleyan University with a similarly dominant performance in today's opener, as she scattered seven hits and gave up just one earned run in a tough-luck loss.

Wooster will have a chance to get back into the win column on Saturday, when it hosts Kenyon College (26-7-5 NCAC) for a twinbill. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.