FULTON, Mo. -- After a pair of dominating wins on Saturday, the William Woods University softball team looks to extend its seven-game winning streak as the Owls host Baker University in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m. WWU's winning streak stretches back to an impressive 4-2 win over then 16th-ranked William Carey University. Baker is also riding a winning streak into the matchup, with four wins on the trot, all coming against teams receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.
Quick Look - William Woods
The Owls have continued to roll on the momentum of a solid 4-2 win over 16th-ranked William Carey University, mowing over its opponents in the current seven-game winning streak. The Owls have collected three shutouts in the stretch and have allowed just seven runs while averaging nearly five per game. Three WWU players have seen action in all 25 games on the slate in 2012, with
Lindsey LeCuru and
Kelsey Schulte having started all 25 games.
Ilissa Facchini has started 24 games for the Owls on the year.
LeCuru leads the Owls offense, collecting 31 hits on the year for a .383 batting average, adding one home run on the year.
Caroline Sicht boasts the second-best batting average on the team at .380, but on the strength of eight extra-base hits - including two home runs - she leads the team with a .544 slugging percentage. Schulte has also collected three home runs on the season for WWU and leads the team with four triples, with Facchini adding the Owls' seventh HR. The Owls have collected 68 walks on the year, led by Facchini's 22 - she boasts a team-high on-base percentage of .513 - and have struck out just 113 times, compared to 67 walks and 159 strikeouts by opponents.
The Owls have been strong in the circle on the 2012 campaign, with
MacKenzie Bowden posting a team-best ERA of 1.81 after two shutouts during the current win streak. She has fanned 85 batters on the year, picking up a staff-high seven wins in 11 appearances, with just two losses and 58.0 innings of work. She is ranked seventh in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings (13.19), ranks 24th in total strikeouts and has picked up the lone save of the year for WWU. She also boasts an opponent's batting average of .186 - 37th-best in the NAIA - following Saturday's no-hitter against MidAmerica Nazarene. Schulte has also been solid in the circle for William Woods, with a team-best 1.87 ERA in 12 appearanges. She has hurled six complete games in nine starts, and has earned decisions in all nine starts, posting a 5-4 record on the year. She leads the team with 67.1 innings pitched on the year and has allowed an opponent's batting average of just .207 on the year.
Becca Schemmer rounds out the starting rotation for the Owls, having earned six decisions in eight starts, with four complete games en route to a 3-3 record. She has thrown 44.1 innings and struck out 26 on the year. The Owls have only had to resort to the bullpen on eight occasions through the 2012 season, with Bowden recording seven complete games, with six for Schulte and four for Schemmer.
As a team, the Owls are ranked sixth in the country in putouts per game with 20.840, and on the strength of a number of extra-innings games - all wins - they still rank sixth in innings pitched per game with 6.947 on the year. WWU also ranks 13th among NAIA schools in fielding percentage, suffering just 25 errors in 735 chances for a mark of .966.
Quick Look - Baker
The Wildcats bring an 8-7 record into Sunday's doubleheader and have not yet seen the opening of conference action as their Saturday doubleheader against Missouri Valley College was rained out. Baker boasts five players who have started all 15 games on the season, with Erin Greenwood leading the team offensively with a .521 batting average. She has collected 25 hits on the season, including seven doubles, a triple and two home runs, but she's drawn just four walks and struck out three times. Brooke Allen is second on the team with a .520 average, but in just eight appearanves. Kayla Morse boasts a .417 batting average in 15 games for Baker on the year, with 20 hits, striking out five times and earning two walks. Although the Wildcats are a solid hitting team, they do not have a lot of power as just 22 of the team's 128 hits have gone for extra bases.
Greenwood is also the leading pitcher on the Wildcat staff, earning a 6-1 record in seven starts, including six complete-game appearances on the season. She holds an era of 2.02, and has allowed just a .209 batting average. She's posted an impressive 71 strikeouts against just 13 walks on the season in 55.1 innings of work. Maggie Holmberg is the other major contributor on the Baker staff, with seven appearances - all starts - and five complete games. She's posted a 2-5 record with a 3.37 ERA on the year, allowing 52 hits on the year for an opponent's batting average of .287. She has earned 35 strikeouts on the year and issued 10 walks in 43.2 innings of work.
In the field, junior Summer Kelley has been solid for Baker, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 116 chances (111 PO, 5 A) on the season, one of seven Wildcats to have a clean slate on the year. Baker has posted a team mark of .966 on the year, suffering just 15 errors in 438 chances on the 2012 slate.
Live Stats Available
In addition to live video for when you're not able to make it to the games, live stats are available for all William Woods University softball games. Launch http://wwuowls.com/SB_LiveStats in your smartphone browser for full details of the games as they happen, including play-by-play, in-game performance and previous plate appearance tracking.
