Scots Have Three Non-League Twinbills On Tap, Including Home Opener

Andrea Kelley

The College of Wooster softball team will battle three regional foes this week in its first action since returning home from a two-week spring trip in Ft. Myers, Fla. The Fighting Scots welcome Marietta College (12-2) for their home opener on Tuesday, March 27, at 3 p.m., then head to John Carroll University (7-7) Thursday, March 29, for another 3 p.m. start, and close the busy week with a trip to Bethany (W. Va.) College (7-9) on Sunday, April 1, with opening pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. All three match-ups will be doubleheaders. Marietta and Wooster have played three of the previous four years and the Pioneers hold a 4-2 advantage in the series, including blanking the Scots on both ends of the twinbill last season (8-0, 4-0). John Carroll has been a regular opponent of Wooster as well, as they’ve played six of the last seven years, with the Blue Streaks slightly ahead (7-5 all-time). In 2006, John Carroll won the first game 12-7, however, the Scots rebounded to take the nightcap 9-1. On Sunday, Wooster will be aiming to end an eight-game losing streak to Bethany, as the Bison have swept four doubleheaders from the Scots, including 16-6 and 5-3 last season.

    Spring Break Recap: Wooster spent the past two weeks in Ft. Myers, Fla., competing in the Gene Cusick Classic. The Scots compiled a 6-10 record during the trip with four of their losses coming by only one run, including two in extra innings.
    As a team, Wooster hit at a .241 clip through the 16 games, led by sophomore outfielder Kate Kiley (Dedham, Mass. / Noble & Greenough) with a .340 average (17-for-50), three RBI, and four steals. Two-time all-NCAC honoree Maria Gonzalez (Millersburg, Ohio / West Holmes) was in a familiar spot near the top of the Scots’ statistics, batting .281 (9-for-32) with eight RBI, in addition to a team-high .469 slugging percentage (one double, one triple, one home run). Freshman Renee Fox (Philo, Ohio / Philo) is enjoying some early success, hitting .278 (10-for-36), to go with a team-high nine RBI. Junior Katelynn Caywood (Amherst, Ohio / Firelands) is also holding a big stick for Wooster, accumulating a .270 average (10-for-37) with four extra-base hits (three doubles, one home run) and four RBI.
    The young Scot pitching staff, which had to overcome 27 errors by the defense during the trip, saw some bright spots. Freshman Andrea Kelley (Westerville, Ohio / Westerville South) made a bid to become Wooster’s ace, as she went 4-4 with a 2.17 ERA while striking out 39 over 51.2 innings pitched. Sophomore Katie Pifer (Meadville, Pa. / Meadville) came away with a 2-6 record, 4.63 ERA, and 28 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.