Extra Inning Win an Early Highlight During Softball’s Spring Games

CLERMONT, Fla. – The College of Wooster softball team has had some early highlights through six games of its 10 game-trip in Florida this week. 

Overall, the Scots are 2-4 on the trip and 4-6 on the year.

Wooster opened with a 6-4 win over Beloit College.

Wooster took a 4-1 lead after the first inning as the Scots compiled no hits, but six walks and two hit batters brought across four runs.

First-year Tori Conner pitched a complete game, allowing three earned runs and striking out five. She also helped herself out at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI.

Later that day, Wooster fell 8-5 to SUNY Cortland. 

Wooster jumped to a 2-0 lead, but Cortland would score eight unanswered runs. Wooster did its best to amount a comeback, scoring three runs in the seventh off three RBI singles from Julia Jennings, Kaydee Clark and Conner. However, Wooster could not score more with the tying run at the plate.

Wooster's first game Tuesday was its most exciting, winning 7-6 in 10 innings over Utica University. Stephanie Griffin-Sanchez tied the single-game hits record, going 5-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.

Both teams traded barbs in the ninth where each team scored three runs. First-year Jasmine Mueller made it a 4-3 game with an RBI single, while Griffin-Sanchez followed with a two-run double to center field. Utica answered with a sacrifice fly and a two-run home run to left center.

Wooster finished off the Pioneers in the 10th. The Scots benefited from a sac bunt and an error to score its seventh run, while Delio shut the door in the bottom of the inning.

The Scots put together 11 hits in the game with Griffin-Sanchez's five-hit game and a 2-for-4 performance from Anna Norby. 

Delio got the win, pitching the final 3.2 innings. The starter Conner gave up three runs in 4.1 innings, while senior Lilly McLendon pitched two innings of scoreless softball.

Wooster ended the day falling 14-3 in five innings to Lake Forest College. Cate Barkdoll hit the team's first home run on a towering shot to left field. Sarah Lodge hit a double to right, center field fence and Griffin-Sanchez made a web gem of a play at short, robbing a line drive hit over her head.

On Thursday, the Scots put together a late rally, but it was not enough in an 8-6 nine inning loss to the United States Coast Guard Academy.

Wooster could not get much going after the Bears scored two runs in the first. However, Wooster forced extras after a three-run sixth where Barkdoll scored Griffin-Sanchez on a single and Delio brought home another two runs on another single.

The teams traded two runs in the eighth, which included Brenna Haydu's first collegiate hit, an RBI double to left field.

Yet, Coast Guard's three runs in the ninth was enough to silence the Scots, who could only put across one additional run in the bottom of the inning.

Delio pitched seven innings to take a no-decision, allowing four earned runs and striking out four.

In game two on Thursday, the Scots fell 9-2 to Babson College. The Scots scored runs in the first thanks to RBI singles from Barkdoll and Haydu. However, Babson starting pitcher Moira O'Reilly settled down and compiled a complete game performance, striking out 15 batters and allowing zero earned runs.

Wooster scattered across seven hits in the game, led by a 2-for-3 game from Barkdoll. Madi Yankauskas went 1-3, recording her first collegiate hit as well.

The Scots have four more games on their spring break trip with a pair on Saturday and another pair on Monday.