Brianne Diorio

In its first action since spring break, The College of Wooster softball team was only able to get one game in on Wednesday (April 3) due to the continued unseasonably cold weather. Fortunately for Wooster, it made good of its chance and held off a late rally to defeat host Grove City College 5-3.

The Scots took a commanding five-run lead into the seventh inning behind the arm of Angie Barone, but Grove City finally got to her as five of the first six batters reached base that frame, cutting the lead to three with the bases loaded and just one out. However, Barone forced two of the next three Wolverines to fly out to Kerri Horst in left field, ending the comeback attempt.

Wooster built its lead with three in the top of the third, thanks to back-to-back, two-out RBI singles from Kady Krivos and Kirsten Lucas. The Scots added what turned out to be very important insurance tallies in the seventh with two more two-out RBI singles. This time, Brianne Diorio and Maggie Combs came through, knocking in Anika Lehman and Kate Henley, respectively.

Barone, who twice escaped unscathed from a runner on third with no outs earlier in the game as well as from a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the fourth and a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the sixth, went the distance, allowing eight hits while striking out seven. She improves to 4-2 on the season.

Next, Wooster will host North Coast Athletic Conference defending champion Denison University (9-7, 1-0 NCAC) in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6, at 1 p.m.