WOOSTER, Ohio - The College of Wooster softball team opened up
North Coast Athletic Conference action on Wednesday afternoon
playing host to Hiram College. When the final out was recorded, the
Fighting Scots had dropped both ends of the doubleheader by scores
of 3-1 and 8-2.
In the opener, the Terriers (15-5, 2-0 NCAC) plated all the runs
they would need in the top of the first, scoring three runs on five
singles to give the visitors a quick 3-0 lead.
Held in check for the first three innings by Hiram starting pitcher
Whitney Dropsey, the Wooster bats came alive in bottom of the
fourth. After Dropsey recorded the first two outs, junior Andrea
Kelley and sophomore Lauren Sargi smacked back-to-back doubles,
producing the Scots lone run.
Wooster's bat attack was relatively quiet during the game,
producing six hits, with Caitlin Gaffney and Kelley each going
2-for-3, and the others coming on a single by Priscilla Staples in
the third and Sargi's double.
Leading Hiram's offensive attack, which collected nine hits
in the contest, was Megan Samuel, who was 2-for-4 with a run
scored. Dropsey helped her cause registering a multiple-hit game
(2-for-4, run scored), while Chastine Romanello was 1-for-3 with a
two-run single in the first.
Taking the loss on the mound for the Scots was Kelley, who allowed
nine hits and three earned runs in seven innings, with five
strikeouts and two walks to fall to 2-9 on the season. Dropsey
picked up the complete-game win, scattering six hits over seven
innings, striking out four and walking one.
In the nightcap, the Terriers built a quick two-run advantage when
Romanello blasted her third home run of the season over the
right-center field wall in the first inning to put Hiram up 2-0.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the second, when
Wooster drew to within a single tally at 2-1. Kelley led off the
inning with a single, followed by back-to-back walks coaxed by
Sargi and Rachel Frank. The next Wooster batter, Natalie Worcester,
induced a walk off and collected an RBI off of Dropsey, who came on
in relief of starter Ashley Crowder, before Dropsey worked out of
the jam minimizing the damage.
The Terriers tacked on another run in their half of the third, when
Hiram executed a double steal and plated a run making it 3-1.
Hiram lit up the scoreboard again, plating four unearned runs in
the fifth. However, Wooster answered with a run of its own in the
bottom half. Kim Skully ripped a one-out triple over the center
fielder's head, and scored on an RBI groundout by Rachel
Gaines.
In the top of the seventh, Hiram tacked on an additional run,
giving them the final 8-2 bulge.
For the game, the Scots (2-20, 0-2 NCAC) roped eight hits, led by
Gaines, who was 2-for-3, while six other players also racked up a
hit.
Samuel led the visitors with a 3-for-3, three-run performance at
the plate, while Dropsey was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Earning the loss in the circle was Scots' hurler Katie Pifer.
In her eighth complete game of the season, she allowed eight runs,
only three were earned, on 11 hits, while striking out three
Terrier batters and walking two. Dropsey was credited with the win
for Hiram, running her record to 10-5 as she allowed four hits and
one earned run while fanning four in six innings of relief.
Wooster will be back in action on Saturday, when it will travel to
NCAC foe Denison University (10-9, 2-0 NCAC) for a 1 p.m.
twinbill.