Late-Game Runs Lift Wooster to Game Two Win, Sweep over Yeowomen
After a 10-2 win over Oberlin College in the day's opener, The College of Wooster softball team came back from a 2-0 deficit with lone runs in the third, fifth, and sixth innings to complete the sweep and close Tuesday with a 3-2 victory over the Yeowomen at Oberlin, Ohio.
On the day, junior Maddy Chase earned both wins from the circle on 11 innings of two-run ball to go along with nine strikeouts. From the batter's box, the junior went 7-for-9, including 5-for-5 in the opener to tie the single-game program record, while scoring four runs and knocking in two more. Notable, Chase moved into fifth place all-time on the program's career wins list, standing solely with 26.
Starting with the nightcap, Wooster (14-16, 5-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) found themselves down 2-0 through two innings but chipped the deficit in half come the top of the third after a solo homer from Chase, who took over pitching duties for teammate Jenna Kendall at the start the of the fourth.
The Scots held Oberlin (9-19, 1-7 NCAC) scoreless through the final five innings of play, while Wooster tacked on lone runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings to complete the comeback. After reaching on a leadoff single and advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Bridget Serrurier, Chase crossed home plate on a game-tying double to left field from first-year Marina Roski.
In the top of the sixth inning, Kendall reached on a single to the shortstop and eventually made way to third after advancing on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Chelsea Copley and a groundout from first-year Morgan Bailey. With two down and first-year Taryn Kohlman at bat, the outfielder laid down a bunt along with first base line and reached on an error by the catcher, allowing Kendall to score the winning run.
In four innings of work, Chase struck out five, including two in each of the sixth and the seventh innings, to close out the game as Oberlin was left with the tying run stranded at third.
The day's opener featured on an offensive clinic from the Scots, who batted in 10 runs on 15 hits, highlighted by a five-run fifth inning.
Senior Linea Brouse went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, while Kendall knocked in four RBI on a 2-for-4 performance, which featured a two-run homer to right center in the top of the seventh.
Brouse cracked open the scoring with a first-inning triple down the right field line, scoring Roski and Chase. Both teams went scoreless over the next three and a half innings before Wooster piled on a five-run top of the fifth – all with two outs down.
Chase opened with a double up the middle and senior Stephenie Little reach on a walk two batters later. Consecutive singles from Brouse and Kendall scored Chase, Little, and eventually Brouse, while a single from Bailey brought in Kendall. Copley, who reached on a walk, capped the inning after scoring on a fielding error at second base.
Oberlin tacked on two unearned runs in the bottom half of the fifth to erase the shutout opportunity. Meanwhile, Kendall closed the game by going yard for the third time this season, as she leads the squad with 21 RBI, before Chase connected on her second double of the game to score Copley. Of note, Kendall moved into a tie for fifth place on the program's all-time home run list with her seventh career homer.
The Scots return to action at Denison University (19-9, 5-3 NCAC) on Saturday, April 15, with the first pitch of the doubleheader slated for 1 p.m.