Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 FULTON, Mo.- The William Woods softball team ended their California trip on a high note sweeping Biola University with a 3-1 and 4-0 victory, led by the pitching performances of
MacKenzie Bowden and
Becca Schemmer.
Game one again turned out to be another pitching duel for the Owls, as
MacKenzie Bowden went toe-to-toe with Eagle starter Sarah Enriquez. The game was scoreless until the top of the fifth, when
Lauren Lopes led the inning off with a walk and she was pinch-ran for by
Sam Parsons.
After a
Megan Cooper ground-out, that moved Parsons to second base, Enriquez was able to get a key second out of the inning as she got Sydnae Hatton to strike out swinging. However,
Kacey Scharnhorst came to the plate next and reached on a throwing error by third baseman Heather Hall, allowing Parsons to score from second, giving the Owls a 1-0 lead.
Bowden did have a no-hitter going heading into the bottom of the fifth, but that was broken up by Ashley Spadt, as she ripped a one out double to left-center, putting the Eagles in scoring position to tie the game. The junior hurler then got Sarah Stromwall to strike-out, her seventh of the game and looked to keep Spadt at bay at second base.
Pinch-hitter Bria Madrid came into hit at the #8 spot in the order and she came through with a single to right center, scoring pinch-runner Marissa Suarez tying the game up at 1-1. Bowden closed out the inning, striking out Celina Thornton, her eighth strikeout (third in the inning).
The Owls look to regain the lead in the top of the sixth, as
Lindsey LeCuru reached on an error, the Eagles third of the game.
Macy Wierschem was up next and she reached on a fielder's choice, however, L. LeCuru was out at second, putting the team with one runner on and two out.
Starter Enriquez put herself in a hole, as the hitters of
Ashley DePew and
Lauren Lopes stayed disciplined at the plate, forcing back-to-back walks, making the bases loaded for pinch-hitter
Kristy Pluchinski. The senior, who is hitting .308 on the season, singled through the right side of the infield, scoring two runs and giving William Woods a 3-1 lead. Sydnae Hatton looked to keep the inning going, however, she grounded out to third ending the top half of the sixth, but the damage was already done, as the offense gave Bowden some support.
WWU was able to hang on in the seventh inning for the two run victory, as in fitting fashion Bowden struck-out the final batter she faced. The Hartsburg, Mo., native held the Eagles to three hits, one run and struck out 11 Biola hitters, setting a new season high for herself.
The offense only totaled three hits as well, but none were any bigger than Pluchinski's single that scored two RBI for the Owls. Scharnhorst and DePew added the other hits on the afternoon.
In the first inning of game two, Scharnhorst got the team started with a single to the right side and she advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Shelby LeCuru. Then #3 hitter
Ilissa Facchini doubled to left field, scoring Scharnhorst and giving the Owls a 1-0 advantage.
Becca Schemmer got the ball in game two, and like Bowden, kept the Eagle offense quiet early in the game. The Owls were able to break the game open in the top of the fifth, as S. LeCuru led things off with a single, and she was able to advance to second after Facchini was walked.
Both runners then moved up a base after L. LeCuru grounded out, putting the team in scoring position.
Macy Wierschem hit a single, scoring S. LeCuru and giving WWU a 2-0 lead. Pluchinski continued the hitting frenzy, doubling to left center, scoring Facchini and Wierschem, extending the lead to 4-0.
After five innings of play, the Owls controlled the game out-hitting the Eagles 10-2 and Schemmer continued to keep the Eagle bats silent the rest of the game, as the team swept Biola, winning game two 4-0.
Schemmer was fantastic this afternoon in her complete game outing, allowing just three hits and even though she didn't strikeout any batters, a lot of the balls in play were hit on the ground, as she can trust the defense behind her. The offense totaled 12 hits, with S. LeCuru, Facchini and
Lauren Lopes each having two hits on the day Pluchinski added two more RBI, giving her a total of four in the double-header.
The Owls earn their way back to a .500 overall record at 6-6 and will look to get their first American Midwest Conference victory, as the team travels to Benedictine-Springfield on March 21
st. First-pitch is set to be thrown at 2:00 p.m.
