Chase’s Perfect Game Highlights Scots’ Strong Start in Florida

Freshman pitcher Maddy Chase tossed the second perfect game in the history of The College of Wooster softball program, and the Fighting Scots' offense displayed exciting power at the plate, which helped them construct a 6-2 record at the halfway point of their annual spring break trip to Fort Myers, Fla.

Chase's history making performance came in a 9-0 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology. The impressive newcomer faced the minimum batters (15) in a five-inning game, striking out three, and forcing another eight to ground out. Wooster's other perfect game was recorded by all-time great Angie Barone back in 2003.

The Scots were aggressive at the dish as well, as they racked up all nine of their runs during the first two innings of the game, which included a two-run homer off the bat of Georgia Hill – the seventh of her young career.

Hill's blast was one of five to leave the park for the Scots through eight games. Another home run came in the season-opener, as Carly Schoenstein went yard in a blowout 14-4 win against Elms College. Schoenstein totaled three hits in all with a career-high five RBI.

Next, Wooster won 4-1 over Olivet College, thanks in large part to pitchers Jenna Kendall and Chase, who combined on a three-hitter in the circle.  

Linea Brouse came up with a clutch hit in the Scots' narrow 6-4 win against Suffolk University, as she broke a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run single down the right field line, which wound up deciding the outcome.

A Schoenstein sacrifice fly was the difference in Wooster's next game against Nazareth College, as she drove a ball to deep right field in the bottom of the fifth inning, which allowed Brouse to come home from third and score the winning run of a 3-2 victory.

The Scots' perfect 4-0 record got its first blemish of the trip against Saint Joseph's College (Me.), with home runs from Schoenstein and Kendall not enough to prevent the Leopards from escaping with a 4-3 triumph.

Wooster bounced back in a big way with a season-high 15 hits in its next game against Swarthmore College, highlighted by another home run from Kendall, and three-hit efforts from Demi Hart, Hill, and Skye Patterson, leading to a decisive 9-3 win.

Finally, the Scots followed up their aforementioned 9-0 victory over Wentworth with a 6-4 setback to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The game was tied 2-2 entering the seventh inning, but the Panthers edged out Wooster by tacking on four runs in the final frame.

Overall, Schoenstein and Hill have stood out offensively midway through the trip. Schoenstein is sporting a .360 batting average (9-of-25) with team-highs in homers (2), runs scored (8), and RBI (13), while Hill boasts a .400 average (10-of-25) with eight RBI.

Every single Scot regular is batting .296 or higher as part of the team's .358 average, with Jamie Kenyon (.462), Taylor Raybuck (.438), and Patterson (.412) leading those with at least 13 at bats.

Also noteworthy, Paige Goldberg and Stephenie Little have eight hits apiece – tied for third on the team through eight games.

As good as Wooster's bats have been, the pitching staff has been equally as impressive, allowing opposing teams to hit just .236 off them. In addition to Chase's perfect game, she also has a 2-1 record with a 1.47 ERA and 10 strikeouts over 19.0 innings pitched. Fellow ace Kate Edgehouse leads the squad with 22.1 innings of work and a shiny 3-0 record with a 2.19 ERA and 13 strikeouts.

Rylee Bouillion, Hill, and Kendall have also had in hand in Wooster's pitching success.

The Scots will be back in action on Saturday, as they begin the second half of their spring break trip with games against Nichols College and University of Wisconsin-Superior.