Scots Postseason Bound as Chase Breaks Single-Season Hits Record in Must-Win Sweep over Ohio Wesleyan
Entering the day in need of a doubleheader sweep over Ohio Wesleyan University in order to qualify for next week's North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament, The College of Wooster softball team came back from early deficits in each game to defeat the Battling Bishops 4-3 and 7-4 en route to the program's first postseason appearance since 2012.
This year also marks the highest regular season and conference win total for Wooster (19-21, 10-6 NCAC) since the 2012 campaign.
In the opener, the Fighting Scots found themselves in a hole early after a shaky defensive start but managed to only relinquish one run to Ohio Wesleyan (17-18-1, 9-7 NCAC).
Wooster's first major scoring opportunity came in the second inning, as the Scots loaded the bases with one out, but a fielder's choice out at home on senior Linea Brouse preserved the Bishop's lead, who forced junior Maddy Chase to fly out in the next at-bat.
Keeping Chase in-check would not come so easy later on, as the junior, who entered the day tied for the program's single-season hits record with 53, came through with the tying RBI two innings later.
In that inning, sophomore Chelsea Copley doubled to left field before senior Rylee Bouillion displayed good patience at the plate to earn a walk. Next up, first-year Taryn Kohlman punched a base-hit single through the left side to load the bases, bringing Chase to the plate.
Coming into the game, Chase was hitting .419 with runners in scoring position, and odds continued in her favor as she came through with a clutch RBI single to left field, scoring two. With the hit, Chase eclipsed alumna Kelley Johnson's record of 53 hits set during the 2010 season to become the outright single-season hits leader in program history.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Bishops tied it up at two with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh, Brouse opened with a leadoff single before moving to second after a walk by senior Jenna Kendall. Next up, Copley displayed a burst of speed by beating out the throw from third base to load the bases. Later, Bouillion reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop, as she intended to put out Brouse – who came in sliding hard at home – but overthrew the catcher. As a result, the Scots took a 3-2 lead with the bases loaded and one out down.
After an infield fly by first-year Morgan Bailey, Chase stepped up with another RBI single to make it a 4-2 Wooster advantage.
Chase, who started in the circle, closed out the game to earn her 10th win of the season and the 28th of her career, ranking fifth-most in program history.
In the nightcap, Chase led off with a single up the middle before eventually scoring from second base on an error. With the run, Chase doubled up her single-season honors, this time laying claim to most single-season runs scored (31) as the Scots took an early 1-0 lead.
The advantage did not last long, however, as Ohio Wesleyan bounced back with two of their own in the bottom half of the frame.
In the third inning, Chase singled up the middle – a common refrain on the day – before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Bridget Serrurier. Next up, first-year Marina Roski singled through the left side before senior Stephenie Little brought in Chase with a fielder's choice to second base.
After the Bishops retook the lead with a run in the fourth, Kendall, who received the start at pitcher, aided her own cause with a two-run homer to center field. The home run marked the eighth of her career, tying 2012 alumna Lauren Swinehart for third-most in program history.
Prior to that, however, the Scots regained the lead after a RBI groundout from Brouse which scored junior Anna Blake, who pinch ran for Roski after she doubled to right center.
In the top of the sixth, Kohlman laid down the bunt to advance Bouillion, who reached on a single up the middle. Next up, Chase reached on a first-pitch single through the left side. From there, Roski added a little breathing room with a RBI single through the right side to score Bouillion to make it a 6-3 Wooster lead.
The hits kept rolling for the Scots the later the game went, as Brouse reached on a well-placed lead-off double to start the seventh before Kendall batted in her third RBI of the game with a single to left field.
With a runner on first in the bottom of the seventh, an unassisted groundout to first-year Samantha Tromba at second base sealed the win and the Scots' first postseason berth in five years.
Notable, the victory marked Kendall's 17th of her career, which stands for seventh all-time. In addition, the senior's 2-for-4, three RBI performance jumped her into third-place all-time in program history with 74 RBI.