WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster wrapped up its season on a high note Saturday, dishing out a decisive 9-1 win against North Coast Athletic Conference leading DenisonDenison University in a run rule shortened opener, becoming just the third team in program history to reach the 20-win plateau.
The Scots (20-20, 6-8 NCAC) were later dealt a 3-2 setback in a lengthy nine-inning battle with the Big Red (26-14, 10-4 NCAC). Only in 2001 and 2002 has Wooster recorded 20 wins in a season, and not since 2005 has it won six or more games against NCAC opponents.
Leading the opener 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, Rachel Frank ignited Wooster's highest scoring inning by turning a hard hit ball through the left side of the infield into a double. Kelley Johnson then smashed a deep shot to the outfield that netted her a triple and drove in Frank, and then an errant throw by Denison allowed her to come around and score as well.
Jenn Horton and Erica Villa later reached base on back-to-back walks, and Caitlin Gaffney got on board via an error, which scored Villa and advanced Horton to third base. Then sharply hit singles by Priscilla Staples and Lauren Sargi plated another two runners, and Johnson drew a bases loaded walk that gave Wooster the 9-1 cushion it held onto.
Besides a Staples' blast to right center that she turned into a triple, Denison's pitcher Samantha Rumschlag held the Scots' bats in check early during the second game. Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Lauren Swinehart came up with a clutch two-run single down the left field line that knotted the game at 2-2, where it remained until Kait Fiore drove in Denison's game-winning RBI in the ninth.
Horton was dominant in her game one victory in the circle, allowing just two hits and one earned run in five innings of work. Allie Webb was equally impressive during her 5.2 inning pitched in the second game, giving up three hits and one earned run, while forcing nine groundouts.
Johnson paced the Scots at the plate with a 4-for-8 effort, pushing her season batting average to .438, and breaking the program's 24-year old record (Karen Johnson, .421) in the category. Seniors Staples and Gaines finished their collegiate careers strong, as Staples went 3-for-7 with an RBI and run scored, and Gaines recorded a hit and scored a run while totaling six assists and four putouts in a solid showing at third base.
As a team, the Scots broke eight single season offensive records in 2010, highlighted by the most runs scored (200), most total hits (336), and its highest batting average (.311).