by Maddie Moran
Sports Editor
The Wooster softball team hosted the Mount Union Raiders for a senior day double-header at Galpin Park on Sunday, April 13. The first game saw Jillian Meszaros ’28 pitch all 7 innings, throwing 71 strikes in her 113 pitches, giving up 6 hits. Meszaros was also the only Scot to score in game one, which came off of a single up the middle by Julia Jennings ’26 in the bottom of the third inning. After losing this first game 2-1, the Scots brushed off the close deficit and fired up a new ball game.
“Being on the mound in close games, I really lean on the defense behind me,” said Tori Conner ’27. “Hearing them cheer me on in between each pitch calms me down and reminds me I am not alone on the mound.After coming off of the first game, I wanted to get redemption in game 2. For each hitter that came up, I had the mentality that I was better than the batter.”
Conner was in the circle for all 7 innings for the second game, throwing 47 strikes in 85 pitches and giving up 4 hits. After making quick work of the Raiders’ offense in 3 straight innings, Shelby Ellsworth ’27 sent a double out to left field and Conner singled to shortstop to put the players into this scoring position. The Scots pieced together a run thanks to a single from Brenna Haydu ’27, bringing home Ellsworth in the fourth inning.
“The second game is what I believe is going to give us a spark for the rest of the season,” said Ellsworth. “We have been talking about who is going to bring the spark, and I believe we are all ready to bring it in different ways.”
The Raiders evened out the score in the top of the fifth inning and went on stealing bases in the sixth, which led to 2 runs and giving the Raiders a 3-1 lead. The bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh flew by quickly, then the big action started.
The seventh saw Haydu single down the left field line and Madi Yankauskas ’27 came in to pinch run for her. Emma Hetkey ’26 reached first base on a fielding error by the shortstop, pushing Yankauskas to second. Cate Barkdoll ’26 was the pinch hitter for Ella Wolff ’26 and was walked, loading the bases.
Jennings stepped up to the plate and singled down the right field line, batting in Yankauskas and advancing Hetkey and Wolff. Meszaros came in next, reaching first on another fielding error by the shortstop. The Raiders’ error allowed Hetkey to reach home and advanced Wolff and Lynx Lander ’28, who came in to pinch run for Jennings. The score was all tied up, 3-3, when Sarah Lodge ’25 stepped up to bat. In true senior day fashion, Lodge singled to right field, sending in Wolff to score the game-winning run.
“I could not have asked for a better senior day. It was a full team effort, and a gritty one at that, to fight back in the bottom of the seventh and give me that opportunity,” said Lodge. “This was the most fight that we have had all year and the first time that we were able to come back and win a game when we were down. Our team is ready to fight like this again as we take on the rest of our conference opponents.”
The Scots will continue their campaign on Saturday, April 19 with a doubleheader at Kenyon at 1 and 3 p.m.
