Big Innings Hurt Scots, Drop Pair to Case Western Reserve

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The College of Wooster softball team lost a pair of close contests to Case Western Reserve University on Saturday, 3-2 and 5-3.

In game one, senior Olivia Johnson did it all, but it wasn't enough. She went 2-for-3 at the plate and brought home both runs on a single to right field in the second inning. On the mound, she pitched all six innings, struck out seven and was responsible for just two earned runs.

Johnson's hit in the second gave Wooster a 2-0 lead which held until a 3-run bottom of the fourth from the Spartans.

Liv Thomas hit a 2-run home run to tie the game for Case. Later, Syndey Wagner connected on a two-out double, stole third and then scored on a passed ball.

Outside of Johnson, Wooster's offense had just three hits, one each from Emmalee Cooke, Stephanie Griffin and Lilly McLendon.

The Scots threatened in the seventh after Johnson hit a single that put runners on first and third with one out. On the next at bat, Ciara Herbert broke for home after a grounder to short but was thrown out. Cooke then flied out to right field to conclude the game.

In game two, Cooke doubled in the second to put Wooster on the board early. After Case answered in the third, junior Gabby Lakes broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth with her first career home run, bringing home Katie Agatucci as well.

Case inched closer in the bottom of the inning with a triple and a single to make it 5-4.

They then scored three in the sixth. A leadoff single led to Johnson relieving starter Marissa Norgrove on the mound. A wild pitch tied the game, and another triple hurt the Scots as this time it brought home two runs. 

Norgrove went five innings, struck out three and gave up three runs. Johnson was credited with the loss, allowing her inherited runner to score and an additional two runs in her inning of work.

Wooster collected eight hits in game two. Lakes and Cooke each had two.

Case improves to 10-4, while Wooster drops to 3-3. The two teams meet again for two more games in Wooster with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.