Softball Closes Out Spring Trip

In their final four games of their spring break trip, The College of Wooster softball team went 1-3, with the highlight being an 11-3 five-inning win over the University of New England. They run their record to 5-9 on the year and will host Wittenberg University when they return on March 29 to open North Coast Athletic Conference play.

Thursday, March 20

Wooster 11, New England 3 (5 inn)

The Scots weren't flashy but were dominant for their third straight win in a 12-3 victory over the University of New England in five innings.

Wooster scattered across 13 hits but only one was an extra base hit, which belonged to senior Sarah Lodge who hit a double to lead off the fifth.

Wooster broke away with a four-run second inning and a five-run fourth. Their three runs in the fifth was highlighted by Julia Jennings's run-scoring single to end the game.

First-year Jillian Meszaros led the pack at the plate and on the mound. Offensively, she went a game-high 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.

On the mound, she pitched the complete game, striking out four and allowing just two earned runs. She held New England scoreless through the first three innings.

Lodge and Ella Wolff each finished 2-for-2. Lodge scored three times, while Wolff scored twice and collected an RBI.

Jennings finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, and first-year Sage Lammlein went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI.

Emma Hetkey and Cate Barkdoll each added a hit and an RBI as well. 

Ramapo 9, Wooster 7

Ramapo College improved to 8-0 on the early season with a 9-7 win over the Scots.

Wooster scored two runs in the first five innings despite not having a hit. Hetkey's bunt single in the sixth became Wooster's first hit of the game.

Ramapo lifted their starting pitcher in the seventh, and Wooster took advantage, scoring five runs on three hits.

However, Ramapo went back to their starter to record the final three outs as Wooster left the winning run at the plate and the tying run at second.

Wooster had just four hits in the game, all singles, spread across Meszaros, Hetkey, Jennings and Lodge. The team drew six walks.

Sophomore starter Tori Conner got chased after 1.2 innings. The relief core did well as first-year Kaitlyn Hale and junior Lynnsey Delio combined to pitch the final 4.1 innings, allowing three earned runs.

Saturday, March 22 

Kalamazoo 6, Wooster 3

Wooster hurt themselves in this one, squandering away an elite pitching performance from Conner in a 6-3 loss.

Conner had pitched a no-hitter through five innings, but it was marred by a three-error third inning, which allowed two runs to score. In fact, through four innings, Conner assisted on six plays in the field and struck out three, accounting for nine of the 12 outs.

Kalamazoo's first true run off Conner came on a solo shot in the sixth with one out. It ended up being the game winning run as Kalamazoo took a 3-2 lead. 

With two outs in the inning, Wooster committed another error, extending the inning and allowing two more unearned runs to score.

The Scots infield committed five errors behind Conner, who pitched the complete game. Two runs went against her, and she struck out four.

Lammelein doubled to score Lodge in the second, and junior Katie Mommers hit a solo home run in the third, her first of the year and second of her career.

Meszaros hit two doubles in the game but came around to score after her single in the seventh. A double from Barkdoll brought her home.

Meszaros finished 3-for-4 as the only Scot with multiple hits in the game.

Luther 5, Wooster 1

In Luther's 5-1 win over Wooster, the Scots got on the board first when Jennings hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Meszaros.

Yet, Luther got to Meszaros early on the mound, plating three in the bottom of the inning off five hits.

Meszaros settled down afterwards, allowing just two runs the rest of the way. She pitched all six innings, striking out four and giving up four earned runs.

Wooster's bats went quiet against Luther starter Alexa Stevermer, who gave up just six hits across seven innings.

Meszaros again was a bright spot on offense, finishing 2-for-3 with a double. Lodge contributed half of the team's hits, going 3-for-3 with a double. Hetkey recorded Wooster's other hit.