MacKenzie Bowden

Softball

Owls Host Park University In The 2013 Home and AMC Opener

Bowden was named the AMC Pitcher of the Week on Monday.
FULTON, Mo. -- The no.41-ranked William Woods University softball team will finally host its 2013 home opener on Saturday afternoon as they face the no.22-ranked Park University for an American Midwest Conference doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Last Time Out
This will be the first games for the Owls since their six-game California trip. It was a successful trip for William Woods (6-6) as they finished 4-2, including a 7-2 victory over then no.1-ranked Cal State San Marcos. WWU also picked up victories over Biola University and Vanguard University.

There were plenty of stand-out players from the trip, including freshman Shelby LeCuru, who posted a .352 batting average (6-for-17) during the six games. LeCuru provided a RBI single in the Owls 4-1 victory over Vanguard University last Wednesday.

Senior Lauren Lopes also had a successful week in the Golden State. The Cali­fornia native hit .333 (4-of-12) in five games, including a 2-for-3 performance against top-ranked Cal State San Marcos.

MacKenzie Bowden went 2-1 in four games out in California and allowed only two earned runs over 21 1/3 innings for a 0.66 ERA to go along with 25 strike outs.

After starting off the season 1-2, the Pirates (14-2, 2-0 AMC) have won 13 consectutive games, including getting their first two conference victories of the year against Benedictine University at Springfield. The Pirates outscored BenU-Springfield 19-2 in the doubleheader.

Lindsay Sumner led the way for the Pirates on the afternoon, combining to go 6-for-7 with three runs scored and five RBI. The combination of Kaily Purtle and Kelli Wenberg shutout the Bulldogs, as the duo allowed just two hits, while striking out four.

AMC Pitcher of the Week
Junior MacKenzie Bowden had an outstanding week on the West Coast, and her effort was rewarded as the AMC named the Pitcher of the Week. Bowden went 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA. The right-hander also struck out 25 batters over 21 1/3 innings pitched.

Home Sweet Home
Saturday marks this first time this season that the Owls have played at the Backer Sport Complex. In fact, Saturday will be the first game that William Woods has played in the Show Me State for the 2013 season. Of the 12 games the Owls have played this season, six have been in California, while the other half dozen have taken place in Oklahoma.

Rain, Rain Go Away!
So far this season William Woods has had 13 games cancelled due to inclement weather. The Owls were scheduled to have their AMC season opener at Benedictine University at Springfield on Thursday afternoon, but was cancelled due to rain. Those games have been rescheduled for April, 11.
 
Starting The Conference Against The Best
This will be the first conference game on the season for the Owls. William Woods is one of five teams yet to play a confer­ence game this season. Park, meanwhile, is tied atop of the AMC with Williams Baptist; both squads are 2-0 in the AMC. At the end of the regular season last year, WWU and Park both finished in the top three.

Players to Keep an Eye Out For - William Woods
There will be plenty of players to look out for in this game on offense and on the mound. Offensively for the Owls, Kacey Scharnhorst is leading the team through 12 games played with a .364 average (12-for-33), scoring eight runs, and is one of four Owls to club a home run this season. Scharnhorst's 17 total bases leads the team.

Senior Illissa Facchini is hitting .333 at the dish, adding three RBI and scoring six runs. Shelby LeCuru leads the Owls in runs scored with eight, while her .324 average is third-best on the team. As a team, William Woods holds a .281 average, which is sixth-best in the conference.

On the mound, junior MacKenzie Bowden has been able to build on her spectacular 2012 season. The imcubent Co-AMC Pitcher of the Year is just 3-3 through six games started -all complete games- and hold a 1.19 ERA, which places her third in the conference. Her 49 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings is the second-highest total in the AMC. Bowden is holding opposing bat­ters to a .225 average, which ranks as the sixth-lowest opponent batting average in the league.

Becca Schemmer has been able to provide head coach Tracy Gastineau a solid no. 2 starter this season with the Owls. Schemmer has been able to keep pace with Bowden in the win column by collecting a 3-2 record with a 3.35 ERA. Through six games she has complied a K/BB ratio of 14/9 and recording three complete games.

Players to Keep an Eye Out For-Park University
Park leads the conference in batting having a .367 average, totaling 156 hits in 425 at-bats. The team has three batters hitting over .400 on the season, led by Lindsay Sumner's .537 batting average. The senior also leads the Pirates in hits (29), runs (17), doubles (7), RBI (19), total bases (43) and slugging percentage (.796).

Jamie Tanno is batting a very well respected .455, as in just 33 plate appearances, she has 15 hits, 11 runs scored and is tied for second in RBI with 15. Six other players are batting over .300 on the year, with Taylor Lipps batting .383, being tied for second in hits (18) and tied for first in runs scored (17).
On the hill, the Pirates have a 2.20 ERA with reliever Kelli Wenberg holding a near perfect earned run average at 0.22. Wenberg has four wins on the season in nine games played, having a K/BB ratio of 32/3 and holding her opponents' batting average to .117. Kaily Purtle leads all pitchers with a 1.38 ERA, to go along with a 5-0 record in six games played.

Owls Face Top Competition through 12 Games
So far on the season, the Owls have played some tough teams that include no.1 Cal State San Marcos, no. 4 Rogers State and #9 Oklahoma City. At the time the Owls played Vanguard University they were receiving votes in the NAIA Softball Top 25 Coaches Poll. The team has gone 2-6 against these top teams, but the tough schedule has prepared them for what lies ahead against AMC teams no. 7 Williams Baptist, no. 22 Park, Columbia College and Missouri Baptist.

Get Social With The Owls
In addition to the traditional outlets, fans can keep up with the latest news about William Woods Athletics via our social media channels. Checkout our Facebook page (Facebook.com/WWUOwls) and twitter feed (@WWU_Owls).

Corporate Partners
Tonight's game is sponsored by Atkins Inc. Throughout the 2012-13 season, William Woods will take many opportunities to thank our corporate partners for their support both on and off the field for our student-athletes. Thanks to State Farm, Central Dairy, Coldwell Banker Niedergerke & Co., Columbia Orthopedic Group, Atkins Inc., Jack's Gourmet Restaurant, Holiday Inn Express, Joe Machens Dealerships, Mid-City Lumber, Mo-X, PEAK Performance, Red Weir Athletic Supplies, State Farm/Don Woodson and White Dog Promotions. For more information on the WWU Corporate Partner programs, contact the William Woods Athletic Department at 573.592.1624.


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