Maddy Chase

Taylor Raybuck

HIRAM, Ohio – Sophomore Maddy Chase continued to shine in the circle as The College of Wooster softball team split with Hiram College 4-0 and 8-3 on Tuesday afternoon at Herndon Field.

Chase turned in her fourth shutout of the season in the first game as the right-hander only allowed four hits – all singles – while fanning four. Notable, Chase has not allowed an earned run in games where she was the starting pitcher over her last 18.1 innings of work.

Wooster's (14-14, 5-3 North Coast Athletic Conference) offense had its ace's back at the plate right from the get-go.

In the first inning, Jenna Kendall roped a two-out single to left field to bring in Taylor Raybuck, who started the game off with a walk, and later moved into scoring position on a stolen base, for the game's first run.

In the fourth inning, the Fighting Scots' middle of the order came through again. Stephenie Little delivered the big knock with a one-out gap-finding single to bring in Bridget Serrurier who led off the frame with a single, and later moved up on a sacrifice bunt from Kendall.

Wooster pushed its lead to three in the sixth, once again getting contributions from numerous spots in the lineup. First, Little led off the frame pushing a single down the third-base line. Then, Chelsea Copley drilled a double to the fence. Next, Kasey Fiedler crushed a shot down the third-base line, catching the bag to plate Little.

The Scots extended the lead again in the seventh. Raybuck and Chase led off the frame with back-to-back hits, with Raybuck later scoring on a Kendall groundout.

Later in the day, Little added a second big hit, this time a two-run double, that put Wooster up 2-0 in the first inning of the nightcap. Earlier in the frame Chase and Serrurier reached on back-to-back one-out singles.

The early lead did not hold up as Hiram (10-20, 4-4 NCAC) struck for four in the bottom of the first, thanks largely to a three-run double from Danielle Latine.

The Terriers extend their lead to 5-2 in the second inning and added an insurance run in the fourth and fifth innings.

Wooster scored its third run of the game on a Kendall single to right in the third.

Kendall took the loss in the circle allowing four runs in two innings of work.

Raybuck led the way at the play going 4-for-7 on the afternoon, while Chase, Kendall, and Little backed up the Scots' table-setter with three hits each. Additionally, Kendall and Little and three RBIs for the twin bill.

Wooster has a quick turnaround and will host Denison University (17-11, 6-2) NCAC in a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday.