Scots Break Four-Game Skid, Split with Yellow Jackets

BEREA – The College of Wooster softball team got back in the win column on Thursday after splitting a doubleheader with Baldwin Wallace University, winning game one 8-5 and falling in game two 10-8.

In game one, Wooster sprayed across 11 hits but only had one extra base hit, which came from first-year Tori Conner, who had a 3 for 4 day. Stephanie Griffin-Sanchez, Julia Jennings and Cate Barkdoll each recorded a pair of RBI, and they all brought home a run when Wooster broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the sixth.

With Baldwin Wallace threating in the bottom of the inning, sophomore Lynnsey Delio came in and produced a clutch double play ball to end the inning. Delio then had a relatively easy seventh on the way for her first career save.

For senior Lilly McLendon, she picked up her first career win, pitching 2.1 innings and allowing just two hits after relieving the starter Conner in the fourth. Conner pitched the first three innings and was hurt mostly by two home runs and three RBI from Maddie Lester.

Baldwin Wallace starter Marisa Hall pitched the full seven and only gave up four earned runs, as her defense behind her committed three errors.

The win broke a four-game skid for the Scots.

In game two, despite a pair of three-run home runs from Barkdoll and senior Anna Norby, the Scots' pitching fell off late, giving up eight runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

Delio, the game two starter, was dealing after recording two strikeouts to begin the fifth but could not record the final out. By the end of the inning, Delio was relieved in favor of McLendon, and the Yellow Jackets would tie the game at 6-6.

Baldwin Wallace's bats stayed hot in the sixth as six hits brought four runs across as Conner had to come in and record the final two outs.

McLendon took the loss, while Baldwin Wallace reliever Taryn Welty collected the win after throwing three innings of two-run softball.

Both teams recorded 12 hits. Sophomore Emma Hetkey went a perfect 4 for 4 and scored two runs. Jennings, Barkdoll and Kaydee Clark each recorded two hits.

Entering, Baldwin Wallace (8-8) had two ranked wins to their name, with victories over then 21st-ranked University of Redlands and 25th-ranked Chapman University.

Next, the Scots (7-11) will travel to the University of Mount Union for a doubleheader on April 4.

Photo credit: Aharon Santos