Jenn Horton

The College of Wooster's softball team has gotten off to an even 8-8 start to the season, but was highly competitive in almost every outing, dropping seven games by two runs or less, during its annual spring break trip to Florida.

Wooster's bats were blazing in the season opener, as Kelley Johnson, Lauren Swinehart, and Jenn Horton all hit home runs to lead an 8-1 rout over University of New England. Over the next two games, The Scots were tripped up 2-1 and 3-1, which became an unfortunate trend, as Wooster's pitching staff took a handful of tough-luck losses.

With their record slipping to 3-6 just over midway through the trip, the Scots rattled off four straight wins, including an 8-0 run rule victory over Mount Mary College, to improve to 7-6. Wooster was then dealt both one-run (1-0) and two-run (3-1) setbacks, before coming from behind to upend University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh 5-4 in its final game at Florida.

The key to the Scots' competiveness during their southern swing was undoubtedly pitching, which included positive efforts from all four members of the rotation. Wooster's hurlers combined to post a squeaky-clean 2.27 ERA, highlighted by ace Horton, who holds a 1.54 ERA in 50 innings pitched. Horton compiled a 3-5 record and 52 strikeouts, including a season-high nine strikeouts against both Nichols College (March 16) and Saint Joseph's (Me.) College (March 19).

Helping her out in the circle were Allie Webb (2-0), Gina Pirolozzi (2-1), and Aundrea Atwell (1-2), who all were solid during the trip. Webb recorded a 2.51 ERA, and earned the first complete-game victory of her career in a 6-3 decision over Edgewood College (March 19). Pirolozzi's biggest win came against a 10-1 Wisconsin-Oshkosh (March 23) squad, when she pitched the last four innings in relief and allowed just two hits while fanning five batters. Atwell, a freshman, notched a shutout win over Mount Mary in just her third career start.

At the plate, Wooster was led by Swinehart, who earned North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors for her excellent start to the season. Swinehart is batting .388, with four doubles, two triples, and two home runs. Her speed has also been on display (3 SB, 12 runs), and in a 7-6 win over Albright College, she sprinted home on a passed ball to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Also having a strong start to the season has been Rachel Frank, who is batting .324 and has hit safely in 12-of-16 games. Last year's statistical leader, Johnson, is hovering around .300 (.298), and is tied (Horton) for the team lead in RBI with seven. Also noteworthy, newcomer Danielle Grooms has been an asset to the lineup early on as well, batting .281 with six RBI.

The Scots, who hit eight home runs during their highly-productive offensive season a year ago, have already hit seven this spring, as Swinehart (2), Johnson (2), Horton (1), Pirolozzi (1), and Caitlin Gaffney (1) have all gone deep. Wooster also appears to be much more aggressive on the base paths, as they are now 14-for-14 on stole base attempts, after swiping just 19 bags in 2010. Leading the way are Swinehart, Frank, Horton, and newcomer Kasie Fagan, who each have three steals, while Gaffney and Erica Villa have one apiece.

Next up, Wooster will begin the northern part of its schedule with its home opener against Marietta College on Mar. 30.