WQIO Ohio's Super Station
WOOSTER, Ohio — The College of Wooster Fighting Scots racked up a combined 18 runs on 18 hits and 10 walks to sweep the visiting Kenyon College Owls in a Tuesday afternoon North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) doubleheader at Galpin Park. Wooster rolled to a 12-2 win in game one and followed up with a 6-1 win in game two.
The two victories pushed Wooster’s records to 14-14 overall and 5-1 in conference play. The losses moved Kenyon to 13-13 overall and 0-4 in NCAC competition.
Wooster put together one big inning to blow open the first game of the day. The Fighting Scots scored one run in each of the first two innings off Kenyon starting pitcher Jillian Messinger. Kenyon, however, got run-scoring hits from Brooke Avila and Maeve McLaughlin to tie things up in the top of the fourth inning.
The bottom of the fourth completely changed the complexion of the game, as Wooster battered Kenyon pitching for 10 runs. The Fighting Scots pieced together eight hits, two walks, a hit batter and used one Kenyon error to put things out of reach. The big hit in the inning came from catcher Brenna Haydu, who crushed a grand slam to left field.
Kenyon relievers Amanda Harris and Kylie Hamm both pitched in that fourth inning and could not find a way to slow down the Wooster offense, which did enough damage to end the game via the eight-run mercy rule after the Owls were retired in order in the top of the fifth.
In game two, Wooster put another crooked number on the board to start the scoring. In the bottom of the second inning, the Fighting Scots touched up Harris, the Kenyon starter, for three runs on three hits and two walks. Two errors were committed in the inning, so all three runs went in the book as unearned.
The Owls chipped away at their deficit by scoring one run in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, McLaughlin singled. She moved to second after a walk was issued to Maddie Friday. McLaughlin later scored after Sophia Lynch reached base because of a Wooster fielding error.
Wooster then pulled away in the fifth inning, using three more hits to score a pair of runs. One inning later, leadoff hitter Stephanie Griffin-Sanchez belted a solo homer to put a cap on all scoring.
Kenyon, which had four hits in game one, managed five hits in game two. The Owls, however, could only muster the one run. McLauglin was the top Kenyon hitter on the day, going a combined 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
The Owls will return to action Sunday, looking to improve their record in a home doubleheader with Oberlin College (3-17, 0-4 NCAC). Game one of the conference battle is scheduled for 1 p.m.
