Following a solid start to the season during its initial week in Fort Myers, Fla., The College of Wooster softball team posted another 5-3 mark to close out its spring break trip, culminating in a 10-6 record, which is the highest winning percentage (.625) the Scots have ever compiled at this point of the season in the history of the program.
The Scots wrapped up their opening week of action with back-to-back wins on March 11, and then strung together three-consecutive wins to start this week, concluding with an 8-3 triumph over SUNY New Paltz on March 14. The five-game win streak was the longest Wooster had strung together since a six-gamer in 2008.
Freshman standout Kelley Johnson, who was awarded North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors on March 16, continued to spark the offense during the Scots second week in Florida. Johnson went 13-for-22 (.591) at the plate during Wooster's final eight games on the trip, and smashed her first career home run in a 3-for-3 effort against Polytechnic Institute of New York on March 13.
Also hitting at impressive clips were Lauren Swinehart (.556) and Eric Villa (.455), who both totaled 10 hits with three multi-hit games apiece. Swinehart had a career game in Wooster's thrilling 14-10 win over The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey on March 17, going 4-for-5 at the plate with two doubles, a triple, and five RBI. Villa has been consistent in totaling at least one base hit in all but one game during the trip.
Priscilla Staples, who leads the team with 17 RBI, tacked on six during the week, and Rachel Gaines drove in seven, while Caitlin Gaffney hit three doubles and tallied three multi-hit games.
Wooster's pitching also remained strong, as both first-year hurlers Gina Pirolozzi and Jenn Horton continued their exceptional play in second week action. Pirolozzi, last week's NCAC Pitcher of the Week, posted a 2-2 record, striking out 24 batters during the stretch, with a career-best 11 coming in a 7-2 win over Roger Williams University. Horton went 3-1 in her four starts, striking out 16 batters while allowing just five walks. She also provided a dual-threat, batting 6-for-12 (.500) at the plate and driving in three runs.
Wooster will head back home and prepare to visit MariettaMarietta College (6-2) for doubleheader action on March 25.