Paige Goldberg

With its 8-0 run-rule victory over Rockford College on Thursday, The College of Wooster improved its record to 6-2 at the halfway point of its annual spring break trip to Fort Myers, Fla.

The Fighting Scots went 17 consecutive innings without allowing a run to start the trip, as they shutout Drew College 1-0 in a pitcher's duel, and then run-ruled Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts 11-0. Finally, the Scots impressive streak came to an end in their third game, as Bethany Lutheran College got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning, but it wasn't enough to prevent another Wooster victory, 6-3.

The Scots needed extra innings to settle their next two games, but they came out on top both times, as they got past Nazareth College 5-2 with a three-run eighth, and Elms College 3-2, thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Demi Hart.

Next, Wooster was on the wrong end of two one-run games, as Richard Stockton College (4-3) and New Jersey City University (2-1) both came from behind to hand the Scots tough losses. Wooster reached the trip's midway points in style, though, as it powered past Rockford 8-0 behind Paige Goldberg's bases-clearing triple and Jenn Horton's seven strikeouts in the circle.

The offense has been led by last year's North Coast Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year, Hart, who has hit safely in all eight games, and is batting .429 overall with eight RBI, one double, three triples, and three stolen bases. Right there with Hart has been Goldberg, who is batting .414 with nine runs scored, five RBI, and seven stolen bases from the leadoff spot.

Other regulars making solid contributions have been Skye Patterson (.263, 4 SB) and Gina Pirolozzi (.200, 6 RBI), while newcomer Taylor Raybuck is making a case for more at-bats after going 8-for-14 (.571) in limited action.

The pitching staff was expected to be a strength for the Scots, and it hasn't disappointed early on, as Horton (3-1, 0.58 ERA) and Pirolozzi (3-1, 0.90 ERA) each appear to be in midseason form. The duo has combined to give up just five earned runs, while striking out 47 batters and walking only nine.