Roski's Homer Lifts Scots to Key Win in Split against 23rd-Ranked Tigers

WOOSTER, Ohio – A key opening game win over No. 23 Wittenberg University put The College of Wooster softball on the right path heading into this weekend's critical showdown against Ohio Wesleyan University, as the Fighting Scots rode a three-run homer from first-year Marina Roski to a 6-2 victory in the opener before dropping the nightcap, 15-5, on "Senior Day" at Galpin Park.

Wooster's (17-21, 8-6 North Coast Athletic Conference) Game 1 victory snapped the Tiger's 14-game winning streak, and also marked the first conference loss of the season for Wittenberg (27-5, 13-1 NCAC).

Early on, the Tigers jumped out to an early lead behind unanswered solo runs in the second and third innings, as junior pitcher Chelsea Zang, who entered the game with a 17-1 record on the year, showed signs of bending but not breaking, allowing four hits through three innings with no runs scored.

Come the fourth, however, the Scots got hot, starting with a leadoff single from senior Jenna Kendall before sophomore Chelsea Copley matched that with a single to left. Senior Rylee Bouillion, who came off a career performance yesterday after hitting her first two career home runs – one a grand slam – against Ohio Northern University, laid down a well-executed sacrifice bunt to advance the runners to second and third with one out.

Next up, first-year Taryn Kohlman connected on a tricky single down the left field line to score Kendall. After a sacrifice fly from junior Maddy Chase, Serrurier stepped up and ripped a single through the middle, leaving Kohlman at second base with the score tied at two.

In the next at-bat on the very first pitch, Roski pummeled her first career home run to left-center, driving in the game-winning runs as her teammates waited, crowding home plate.

Prior to today, Zang had allowed 15 total earned runs through 23 appearances on the year to go along with 66 strikeouts. On Tuesday in Game 1, the junior allowed a total of six earned runs while recording one strikeout.

After a scoreless fifth inning for both sides, Chase came in to close out the final two innings from the circle. The junior struck out the first two batters before Witt's Olivia Hopkins reached on a hit by pitch. With a runner in scoring position after Hopkins stole second, Chase cleared the Scots from danger with her third strikeout of the inning.

With two down in the bottom of the sixth, senior Stephenie Little revved up the offensive engine one last time, starting with a two-out single down the right field line. With first-year Samantha Tromba pinch running for Little, senior Linea Brouse stepped up big, smacking an RBI triple to center field, marking the senior's second of the season and third of her career.

Back-to-back singles from the Tiger's Abby Curnutte and Zang put Witt in a threatening position come the top of the seventh. However, one groundout later and with runners on second and third, Chase pulled through with back-to-back strikeouts to close the game.

Kendall earned her 16th career win, the seventh-most in program history, and Chase earned the save.

Despite the score line, Game 2 featured an impressive comeback effort from the Scots, who down 6-1 through five and a half innings bounced back behind a pair of runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings.

Hopkins gave the Tigers the opening lead with a leadoff solo shot to right field. From there, both teams went scoreless heading into the bottom of the third. With two outs and Chase at third, Little connected on her second hit of the day with an RBI single up the middle to level the game at one.

Witt took advantage of a defensive miscue in the fourth inning in addition to two hard-hit doubles that scored two, before posting three more runs in the top of the fifth to make it a 6-1 Tigers' advantage heading into the bottom half.

Walks by Chase and Roski once again put Little in a clutch position, and clutch she was as the senior ripped a line drive near the centerfielder's feet to reach second base and score two.

In the next inning, Copley turned on the jets with a one-out triple to right center, though she was eventually caught in a rundown two batters later. With a walk by Bouillion and first-year Morgan Bailey reaching on a fielder's choice, Chase singled to load the bases with Serrurier up to bat. The sophomore standout cracked a single to center field to score two and draw the Scots within one (6-5), but a nine-run seventh inning sealed the deal for Witt as they prevailed 15-5.

Several notable statistical achievements were noted on the day, including Chase recording her 53rd hit of the season in Game 2, tying alumna Kelley Johnson's single-season program record set in 2010. In addition, the junior scored her 30th run of the year, also tying the single-season program record with three others.

Little's 4-for-4, three-RBI performance in the nightcap lifted her into the top five in career hits (129) and into a tie for third all-time in RBI (71) along with classmate Kendall. Speaking of Kendall, in addition to earning her 16th career win, the senior moved into top eight all-time in hits with 121.

Up next, the Scots travel to Delaware, Ohio on April 29 in the regular-season doubleheader finale against the Battling Bishops (16-16, 9-5 NCAC), who remain one game ahead of the Scots for the fourth and final conference tournament spot, meaning Wooster will look for the sweep to earn their first league tournament berth since 2012.