Scots Return from Florida Trip Off to Best Start in Program History

Andrea Kelley is 5-1 with six complete games and a 1.59 ERA, picking up NCAC Pitcher-of-the-Week honors for the week of March 17.

At its annual spring break trip to Fort Myers, Florida, The College of Wooster softball team rebounded from a 1-3 start to win six-straight games and eight of its next 10 to move to 9-5 overall on the young season. With that record, it marks the best start in the program’s 11-year history. 

Wooster took the first game of the trip by an 8-5 count over Drew University after having its first two games canceled due to travel delays. The Scots came up empty in their next three games, suffering close losses to New Jersey City University (2-4), Olivet College (3-6), and Elms College (2-3).

After that 1-3 start, Wooster rebounded rattling off their six-game winning streak, with five victories coming via a one-run margin, including two in extra innings. In the first match-up, Wooster edged Skidmore College 7-6 in eight innings, followed by an eight-inning victory over Curry College, 3-2.  Next, the Scots posted back-to-back shutout wins over St. Lawrence University (1-0), and Eastern Nazarene College (5-0) thanks to complete-game gems by sophomore Andrea Kelley and junior Katie Pifer, respectively. Kelley allowed four hits in seven innings of work striking out four batters, while Pifer scattered six hits and also struck out four.
 
On March 16, Wooster jumped out to a three-run lead against Lasell College, eventually seeing the Lasers tie the game 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wooster, however, rebounded with a run in its half of the sixth on an RBI single by Natalie Worcester that plated Lauren Sargi to win the game 4-3. Later that day, the Scots trailed Illinois College 5-3 going into the bottom of the seventh, before scoring three runs capped off by a game-winning RBI single of the bat of Kelley.

During the final four games of the trip, Wooster posted a 2-2 record with victories over Worcester State College (9-1), and Roger Williams University (3-1), and setbacks at the hands of SUNY New Paltz (0-4), and SUNY Brockport (0-2).

Over the first two weeks of the spring, the Scots are led by Worcester, who has posted a .438 batting average on 14 hits in 32 at-bats, including two doubles, two triples and one home run to go along with eight runs scored and seven RBI. Junior Kim Skully isn’t far behind with a .421 average (16-for-38) with eight runs scored, three doubles, one home run, and a team-leading 10 RBI and eight walks.

Senior Kate Kiley has started her final season very strong, hitting at a .351 clip (13-for-37), to go along with seven runs scored, four RBI, and is tied for team-high honors with Skully swiping six stolen bases.

The pitching staff has more than held its own through the first two weeks of the season, posting a combined 1.60 ERA. Kelly is 5-1 overall with a 1.59 ERA covering 44 frames of work, and picked up NCAC Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of March 17th. Additionally, Pifer has turned in a 3-4 record despite her 1.75 ERA over 36 innings pitched, and Ronni Wasmuth collected a 1-0 record with a 1.31 ERA. As a combined staff, Wooster hurlers held opponents to a .269 batting average.

Following a weekend off, the Scots look to continue the positive momentum surge next week, where they will face regional foes Marietta College and John Carroll University in a pair of scheduled twinbills. Wooster will travel to southern Ohio and take on the Pioneers Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., before opening the home portion of their 2008 schedule against the Blue Streaks on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.