Georgia Hill

Paige Goldberg

Versatile sophomore Georgia Hill did it all during an eight-game stretch to close out The College of Wooster's spring break trip in Florida, as she drove in a team-high 11 RBI at the plate and also pitched 12.1 innings of one-run ball, but the Fighting Scots went just 3-5, although three losses were by a single run and another setback came in extra innings.

Following a 6-2 start to the trip, the Scots pushed their record to 7-2 on March 14 with an 8-3 victory over Nichols College. With Wooster down 3-2 to Nichols early, Hill entered in relief and proceeded to pitch five shutout innings, and she earned the win, as the Scots used a five-run fifth inning, which included a Demi Hart home run, to take the lead for good.

Wooster dropped its second game that day, 6-3 to University of Wisconsin-Superior, but there was a silver lining – as Paige Goldberg collected two hits to become the program's all-time hits leader with 132, surpassing Erica Villa's 131 (2010-13). Also, Stephenie Little smacked her first career home run and freshman Jamie Kenyon recorded two stolen bases in the setback.

Next, the Scots lost a one-run decision to University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, 3-2. Starting pitcher Kate Edgehouse kept the Corsairs off the scoreboard for four innings, but they got to her for three runs in the fifth frame, which proved to be the difference. Wooster did score twice in the sixth, when Skye Patterson delivered a two-run single to left field, but the rally ended there.

Wooster's offense came alive in the next game, though, with 10 hits and seven walks against Lasell College, en route to a 16-1 victory – the Scots third via run rule during the trip. The onslaught came in the fifth inning, as Wooster scored 10 runs, highlighted by Hill's two-run double down the left-field line, and a triple from Kenyon that plated two more runners. Also noteworthy, Goldberg collected four RBI, a new career high.

The Scots had to play catch-up in their next game, as they fell behind 9-2 to Stevens Institute after just three innings, and nearly completed an impressive comeback. Wooster hung six unanswered runs on the Ducks from that point on, but came up just short, 9-8. Carly Schoenstein went 4-for-4 at the plate, and Goldberg and Hart each added three hits apiece in defeat.

Wooster powered past The College at Brockport next, 9-5, with all nine runs coming during an explosive fourth inning. Seven different Scots knocked in an RBI in the frame, highlighted by a three-run double of the bat of Hill.

The Scots had a heartbreaking close to their trip on March 18, as they lost their first game by one run (3-2) and the next by two runs (4-2) that came against them in extra innings.

First, University of Wisconsin-Platteville used a game-winning solo shot in the sixth inning to drop the Scots. Taylor Raybuck reached base all three times (2-for-2, walk) and scored a run in that game.

Then, University of St. Joseph edged out Wooster in extra innings despite a terrific pitching performance from Jenna Kendall. The sophomore entered in relief in the sixth frame and escaped a bases loaded jam to keep St. Joe's off the board, and then she pitched 1-2-3 seventh, but the Scots weren't able to break a 2-2 tie. Finally, the Blue Jays plated two runs in the eighth to sneak away with the win.

Overall, Schoenstein paced Wooster's hitters over the last eight games with a .393 average (11-of-28). Hart (.381) and Little (.379) were also locked in, as was Linea Brouse (.321), who displayed solid power with five of her nine hits going for doubles.

Hill routinely came up with clutch hits, but was just as impressive as a pitcher, as she went 1-0 with a 0.57 ERA over 12.1 innings – all in relief. She totaled nine strikeouts and just one walk while limiting opponents to a .234 batting average against.

Edgehouse has been striking out batters at a higher rate this season, as she fanned 13 over 16.1 innings, while Maddy Chase struck out nine in 13.0 frames.

Wooster's home opener is next Thursday, when it hosts University of Mount Union (7-5) in a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3:30 p.m.