Softball Splits Home Opener With Grove City

Angie Barone

The College of Wooster softball team opened its home schedule on Wednesday afternoon and split with Grove City College, losing the first 5-3 in eight innings and winning the nightcap 2-0 behind freshman Angie Barone's first career shutout.

In the first game, Wooster saw a 2-0 lead slip away in the top half of the sixth inning when Grove City scored twice, which eventually pushed it into extra frames. That is something that the Scots are getting all too familiar with, as three of their first nine games have now gone into extra innings.

This time, the Wolverines took advantage of an error, a pair of walks, and a two-run single off the bat of Ellie Smith given up by Barone, who came in to relieve freshman starter Nell Schieber, to gain a 5-2 lead.

Wooster would not go away quietly, as it plated a run in the bottom of the eighth behind a leadoff double by junior Kady Krivos, but relief pitcher Molly Forney eventually secured the win for Grove City.

Barone went on to avenge herself in game two, tossing a one-hit, seven-strikeout masterpiece.

All she needed for her second collegiate victory would be a run by leadoff hitter Christy Shadle in the opening frame. The freshman scored on an RBI single by classmate Lindsay Vargo.

The Scots did, however, go on to tack on an insurance run in the sixth inning.

Grove City's Allison Atwood picked up the loss in the nightcap.

Wooster, which moved to 2-7 on the season, next has a doubleheader scheduled at Carlow College on Saturday, March 24, starting at 1 p.m.