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Box Score 3 DECATUR, Ala.—The (RV) William Woods University softball was finally able to close out the Alabama Arctic Blast this weekend, after playing three games on Saturday. The Owls fell to No. 11-ranked Lindsey Wilson 7-6 (8 innings), defeated Martin Methodist 2-1 (9 innings), but then fell in the finale to (RV) Campbellsville University 2-1 (9 innings).
"Obviously we would have liked to come back with a better record for the weekend, but I feel we did get some valuable experience," said head coach
Tracy Gastineau. "We played two games on Friday and came back on Saturday, playing three extra inning ball games, for a total of 26 innings. We were on the field for a long time, but I saw a lot of good things out of our team and some things we need to work on," she added.
Lindsey Wilson 7 William Woods University 6
The Owls (5-4) jumped on No. 11-ranked Lindsey Wilson and its starter Jordan Hood, taking a 3-0 lead after four innings of play. The team would add two more runs in the top half of the fifth, and extend its advantage out to 5-0.
Then, the Blue Raiders offense got to starter
Becca Schemmer, cutting the deficit down to one run, after scoring four runs in the home half of the fifth. After a scoreless sixth inning, LWU would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and force extra innings.
WWU would respond by retaking the lead at 6-5 in the top of the eighth, but the Blue Raiders would score two runs in the bottom of the inning and escape with a one-run victory.
The Owls totaled nine hits in the game, led by
Beth Begemann, hitting her second home run on the year and finished the game 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI.
Kacey Scharnhorst went 1-for-3 at the dish with one run scored and hit her first home run on the year, finishing with two RBI.
Lindsey LeCuru went 2-for-4 with one run scored, while
Grace Fritz went 1-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI, and
Caroline Sicht went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit RBI.
On the mound, Schemmer threw four innings, allowing four runs on four hits, while reliever
MacKenzie Bowden, went three 2/3 innings, allowed two earned runs on two hits and struck out nine.
The 1-2-3 hitters for Lindsey Wilson contributed six of the seven RBI, and combined to go 4-for-9 with four runs scored.
William Woods University 4 Martin Methodist 3
In game two, Martin Methodist took a 3-0 lead after two innings of play, on Owls hurler
Julie Scheer, who was making her first start for the Owls this season.
WWU, however, would tally two runs in the bottom of the sixth and headed into the seventh down by just one run. After reliever Schemmer held MMU scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Owls would tie the game in the bottom of the inning, as
Lindsey LeCuru hit a two out solo home run and forced yet another game into extras.
The Owls would go on and pick up its first victory of the Alabama Arctic Blast, as the team scored the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The offense totaled nine hits in the game, led by
Hannah Campbell,
Shelby LeCuru and
Macy Wierschem, each having two hits in the game, while Campbell added an RBI and Wierschem scored once.
Begemann,
Lindsey LeCuru and
Brailee Schulte each had one hit, and
Megan Cooper tallied one RBI. On the hill, Scheer went two 1/3 innings in her debut allowing three runs, while Schemmer pitched very well in relief, throwing six 2/3 of shutout ball, allowing five hits and struck out two.
"After experiencing a really tough loss on Saturday morning vs. Lindsey Wilson, losing a five run lead late in the game, I was really proud of the way we fought back and came from behind against Martin Methodist," said Gastineau.
Campbellsville 2 William Woods University 1
The final game in Alabama was a pitching duel between Bowden and Campbellsville hurler Victoria Decker, as they only allowed a total of eight hits in the game.
The game remained scoreless through seven innings, so for the third straight game, the Owls went to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, the Lady Tigers took a 1-0 lead, but only momentarily, as WWU would tie the game in the bottom of the eighth and it was off to the ninth.
In the top of the ninth, CU would score again to take a 2-1 lead and they were able to close the door on the Owls in the bottom of the ninth and hold on for the one run victory.
The Owls were held to two hits on the day, as
Lindsey LeCuru went 2-for-3 on the afternoon. Bowden was fantastic on the mound, allowing two runs (zero earned) on six hits and struck out 10 Lady Tigers.
CU earned the win behind the pitching performance of Decker, who allowed one run on two hits and struck out six. Kristin and Erin Benton each added one RBI for the Lady Tigers.
"This game was a really fun and frustrating to be a part of," said Gastineau. "It was fun because both teams made some really good defensive plays, but frustrating because we left the bases loaded in the second and third innings without scoring a run. We had our opportunities and didn't capitalize on them, but it also speaks to Campbellsville and their abilities," she added.
"We played three top 11 teams and Campbellsville is receiving votes," said Gastineau. "We played three really close games against those teams, but just didn't finish. I am hopeful that this early season tough schedule will pay off as we progress and start conference play."
The Owls (5-4), will be back in action on Saturday Mar. 1
st for its home opener against No. 10-ranked Olivet Nazarene. First-pitch will start at 12 p.m.
