HANNIBAL, Mo. -- After another unpredictable week off, the William Woods University softball team will return to action on Friday afternoon as they travel to Hannibal-LaGrange University for an American Midwest Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
William Woods (6-8, 0-2 AMC) is eager to get back to the field after having their 15th game of the year cancelled on Tuesday. Head coach Tracy Gastineau expressed it being an inconvenience, but she believes it can play a huge role later in the year. “With the injuries we've had and the fact we have fewer numbers this year, it's not a bad thing in regards to being fresh at the end of the season,” said Gastineau.
The Owls will play roughly 16 conference games in a span of three weeks, and the skipper believes that her team will be fresh during that stretch because of the early season cancellations.
Last Saturday, the Owls kicked off the AMC portion of its schedule as they host no. 18 Park University. WWU was swept in the afternoon doubleheader, losing 8-3 in the first game, and were no-hit by Park's Kaily Purtle in an 8-0 five-inning win for the Pirates in the later affair.
“We didn't even talk about (being no-hit) at all,” said Gastineau. “Purtle did her job, we didn't do ours. Our issue was from the mental aspect, and we have addressed that this week, and are looking to implement that from here on out.”
Kacey Scharnhorst's .333 average is the leads the team, and her seven RBIs ranks second-best on the team, just one behind Kristy Plunchinski's eight runs batted in.
On the mound, reigning AMC Co-Pitcher of the Year, MacKenzie Bowden, will look to rebound after suffering though her shortest outing of the year on Saturday. Bowden last just 3.1 innings and walked five batters, while giving up four runs (two earned).
Bowden's 1.41 ERA still ranks in the top five of the AMC and her 54 strikeouts is the second-highest total the conference.
The Owls will have a chance to play catch up, this weekend as they face a Hannibal-LaGrange (7-7, 2-0 AMC) team that currently stands in third-place in the conference. “They are a team that makes a coach nervous,” said Gastineau when asked about the Trojans. “They are a scrappy team that hustles well and they always seem to in a position to win every time out.”
Junior Taylor Lewis leads the team in hitting with her .455 average. The average also ranks as fourth-highest total in the AMC. Kachina Hudson's 10 RBIs is tops for the Trojans, and she has also clubbed the team's only homerun.
The versatile Hudson is also the team's top pitcher. The senior has compiled a 5-4 record with a 2.21 ERA through 63.1 innings.
