Caitlin Gaffney

The College of Wooster dropped both games in its North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader with Ohio Wesleyan University, despite holding early leads in each, as the Battling Bishops scored late runs to get past the Fighting Scots 6-2 and 5-3 on Saturday at Margaret Sagan Field in Delaware, Ohio.

Following two scoreless innings to start the opener, the Scots (8-14, 0-2 NCAC) got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third. Kelley Johnson drew a walk, and Erica Villa used her speed to reach base on a bunt, which put runners at first and second. Next up was Lauren Swinehart, who used a sacrifice bunt to push the runners over, and then Gina Pirolozzi was walked to load the bases. It was Caitlin Gaffney who then delivered an RBI, as she smacked a sacrifice fly to deep center field, and Johnson tagged up and raced home to give Wooster a 1 -0 lead.

Then in the fourth inning, Wooster manufactured another run, as a passed ball and an error that took place during Villa's at bat allowed Rachel Frank to score from second base making it 2-0. Ohio Wesleyan's (13-7, 2-0 NCAC) offense tacked on four runs in the bottom of the fourth, though, highlighted by a three-run by Abby Walsh, and the Bishops added another two runs in the fifth to create their 6-2 win margin.

In the second game, Wooster did all of its damage in the first inning, as Gaffney again hit a sacrifice fly to drive in a run, and Pirolozzi hit a two-out single that scored a pair of runs, giving Wooster an early 3-0 cushion. The Bishops added runs of their own, with one in the first inning, three in the third, and another in the fourth, and Wooster's bats were held in check the remainder of the game. Danielle Grooms did slap her first-career triple to kick off the sixth inning, but the Scots were unable to send her home.

Villa led Wooster with a 3-for-8 effort on the day, while Grooms and Frank were the others who hit safely in both games. Jenn Horton and Gina Pirolozzi each struck out five batters in the first and second game, respectively, but were touched for 17 hits in all.

Next up, Wooster will look to bounce back in a doubleheader against Northeast Ohio foe (12-20) on Monday at 3:30 p.m.