Lauren Sargi

Caitlin Gaffney

WOOSTER, Ohio – The College of Wooster softball team used lights out pitching and timely hitting to get by Kenyon College 3-0 in the opener, but a late comeback attempt wasn't enough in the second game, as the Ladies won 5-4 in North Coast Athletic Conference action, ending the Fighting Scots season.

Wooster (14-20, 6-8 NCAC) would have likely needed to sweep Kenyon (10-22, 3-8 NCAC) and get some help around the league to have had a chance to make the NCAC Tournament. The Scots went 6-8 in conference play for the second year in a row.

Game one was highlighted by Jenn Horton's complete game shutout, as she struck out seven batters and allowed just five hits in a dominant effort. Horton also helped Wooster break a scoreless tie in the fifth inning, as she hit a leadoff single and eventually scored when Erica Villa drove her in with an RBI up the middle that made it 1-0.

The Scots added two more insurance runs in the sixth inning, as Gina Pirolozzi kicked off the frame with a deep double down the left field line, and both Horton and Lauren Sargi knocked in runs to give Wooster its 3-0 margin.

In the second game, Wooster jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning, after Danielle Grooms scored on a wild pitch and Kelley Johnson hit an RBI double to deep left center. Kenyon pulled within 2-1 in the third inning, and tied it 2-2 in the fifth, but then the Ladies broke the game open with a three-run seventh inning, which included a home run from Emily Perhoda, to take a 5-2 lead.

Wooster made it interesting in the seventh inning, though, as Johnson drew a walk, and Lauren Swinehart doubled to put runners on second and third. Pirolozzi scored both runners with a double to deep center to pull the Scots within 5-4, but Kenyon eventually got out of the inning with the win.

The Scots honored their seniors at the beginning of the doubleheader, and both had solid outings, as Sargi went 2-for-6 on the day with an RBI, while Caitlin Gaffney was 1-for-3 with a run scored in the opener.

Also noteworthy, Pirolozzi hit a double in both games, and Johnson, Villa, and Pirolozzi all recorded a stolen base on the afternoon.