Scots Open NCAC Action, Hosting Hiram, Wittenberg This Week

Molly Gaffney

The College of Wooster softball team looks to open up the North Coast Athletic Conference portion of its schedule this week on a positive note, as it plays host to a pair of league opponents Tuesday and Saturday, with both doubleheaders set to begin at 3:30 p.m. On April 3, the Fighting Scots will welcome one of the NCAC’s surprising squads this year, Hiram College (10-6, 0-0 NCAC), to Wooster. The two are dead even in the all-time series (9-9) and also split their 2006 twinbill, with the Terriers taking game one 10-3 and the Scots bouncing back to take the nightcap 4-2. Rival Wittenberg University (15-7, 0-0 NCAC), owner of the best non-conference record thus far among NCAC members, visits Wooster April 6. The Scots will be looking to avenge two losses to the Tigers from last year (15-0, 9-1) as well as improve on their 7-11 mark in the all-time series.

    Last Week: The Scots were swept in one doubleheader and split another to run their record to 7-13 overall.
    On March 27, visiting Marietta College, currently ranked No. 16, pounded out 30 hits while the Wooster defense committed eight errors on the afternoon, as the Pioneers cruised to 11-0 and 8-0 wins. Leading the Scots at the plate was Molly Gaffney (Tallmadge, Ohio / Archbishop Hoban), who collected two hits during five at bats overall, while Katelynn Caywood (Amherst, Ohio / Firelands) and Rachel Gaines (Burghill, Ohio / Badger) roped one hit apiece.
    On March 29, host John Carroll University and Wooster played two competitive games, as the Blue Streaks took the first 5-3 and then the Scots earned the split via a 7-6 victory. Game one was deadlocked 3-3 until the bottom of the sixth when a two-out Wooster error allowed two runs to come in for the winning margin. Maria Gonzalez (Millersburg, Ohio / West Holmes) was 3-for-3 in that contest, while Gaffney contributed a two-run homer, marking the second round-tripper of her career. Providing another key hit was Kim Skully (Brooklyn Hts., Ohio / Cuyahoga Heights), who had an RBI single. In game two, the Scots rebounded, taking an early 4-0 lead and then caught a break in the fifth with a bases-loaded, two-out wild pitch to break a 6-6 tie. Wooster was keyed by Ali Barone (Akron, Ohio / St. Thomas Aquinas) and Gaines, who were both 2-for-4, while Caywood and Renee Fox (Philo, Ohio / Philo) each clubbed home runs. Caywood finished with three runs scored as well as three RBI. Katie Pifer (Meadville, Pa. / Meadville) earned the win  – her third of the season (3-7) – in the circle. Of the six runs she allowed, four were earned, as she scattered 10 hits through the seven innings and struck out four.
    On April 1, the Scots were slated to play a doubleheader at Bethany College, but it was postponed due to wet field conditions. A make-up date has not been announced.