Scots Get First Win, Split With Spalding

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The College of Wooster softball team split with Spalding University on Sunday to collect its first win of the early season.

The Scots dropped game one 4-1 but got the bats going in game two for a 10-1 victory in six innings.

Pitching was on point in both games behind the arms of first-year pitcher Jillian Meszaros and sophomore Tori Conner.

In game one, Mesazros was stellar through five innings, allowing just one hit. However, Spalding (3-7) needed just one inning to turn the tide.

Through the first three innings, Meszaros worked through some command issues, leaving four runners on base who each reached via walk or hit by pitch. Yet, her nine outs never left the infield, which included three punchouts.

In addition, the final outs of the third and fourth resulted in a line out double play straight at Shelby Ellsworth at first base.

The only hit in the first three innings came from Wooster, and it was a big one. First-year Lynx Lander went deep on a solo home run over the right field fence to put Wooster ahead 1-0.

In the top of the fifth, Meszaros tried to help herself out with a leadoff double to the right field fence. However, she was left stranded on third.

Spalding's Grayce Marcum tied it in the bottom of the sixth on a triple to right field. A sliding attempt allowed the ball to go to the fence and then a throwing error allowed Marcum to come all the way around on the play.

That started a four-run inning, which was aided by a couple errors. Meszaros finished the game and would take the loss but only with one earned run credited to her line.

Wooster totaled five hits in the game. Meszaros went 2-for-3 with a double, while Lander, Cate Barkdoll and Katie Mommers each had a hit.

In game two, Conner was just as good but got the support of the Wooster bats. Conner pitched the complete game, allowed one hit through the first three innings, allowed one earned run and struck out two.

The Scots got rolling early behind a first inning RBI single from Barkdoll.

Wooster then did damage with two outs in the second inning, scoring three runs to go up 4-0. Junior Julia Jennings brought one home with a single to left field, another scored on an error and Barkdoll doubled to score Jennings.

Wooster (1-3) scored in every inning but the third and used a four-run sixth inning to end the game early.

In the sixth, Addie Nichols, Conner and Meszaros all produced RBI singles.

The Scots sprayed across 19 hits, led by a 4-for-5 performance from Emma Hetkey. Jennings and Barkdoll followed with 3-for-4 days with two RBI each as the 2-4 hitters combined to go 10-for-19.

Ellsworth and Meszaros finished with two hits. Senior Cassie Frangella recorded a hit to aid a run scored in the fifth, which was eventually brought in on a sacrifice fly from Madi Yankauskas.

Next, the Scots travel to Capital University for a Tuesday doubleheader.