Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 TAHLEQUAH, Okla.—The (RV) William Woods University softball team scored a season-high 20 runs in a 17-run rout against Bethany College, but the Owls dropped the finale in Oklahoma against Northeastern State University, falling 5-4.
William Woods 20 Bethany College 3 (5 innings)
The Owls (7-6), scored at least three runs in four out of the five innings played against Bethany (4-9). The team jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning and continued the hit parade, tallying three in the second, seven more in the fourth and three in the fifth for the 17-run victory.
The offense totaled 23 hits, with 11 different players having at least one hit in the game. The 5-9 hitters of
Kacey Scharnhorst,
Macy Wierschem,
Alexi Cavins,
Brailee Schulte and
Megan Cooper dominated for the Owls, combining to go 13-for-19 with 10 runs scored and 11 RBI.
Lindsey LeCuru and
Julie Scheer each went 2-for-2 with one run scored and an RBI, while
Hillary Hentges went 2-for-3 with one run scored and two RBI off the bench, including hitting her first collegiate home run.
On the mound,
MacKenzie Bowden picked up her third victory on the 2014 season, allowing three runs on two hits and struck out eight batters.
Northeastern State 5 William Woods 4
In game two, things started off well yet again for WWU, as
Lindsey LeCuru singled to left field, scoring
Hannah Campbell, who reached on an error to start the game. Schulte, extended the Owls lead to 2-0 with a single to center, scoring
Beth Begemann.
In the top of the third,
Lindsey LeCuru hit a one out single to right to get things going on offense. Then, Scharnhorst hit her second home run on the season over the left field wall and put the Owls ahead 4-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
The Riverhawks, however, responded, as Krysti Cearley got the offense started with a one out single and she was followed up by Lauren Flanary and Madison Reed hitting back-to-back singles, which loaded up the bases for Saharra Henson.
The third baseman was hit-by-pitch, and that scored Cearley and put the Riverhawks on the board, and now had the tying run on first base. Madison Boyd then, singled, scoring Flanary and Reed, which now put NSU now down by one at 4-3.
Alyssa Aguilar would close out the inning on a high note, as she hit a sacrifice fly and tied the game up at 4-4 after three innings of play. In the bottom of the fifth, the Riverhawks would take its first lead of the game, as Allyson Pogue singled up the middle, scoring Boyd who reached base on an error earlier in the inning.
NSU starter Kayce Wooldridge would shut down the Owls offense the rest of the way, as the Riverhawks held on for the 5-4 win.
The Owls totaled six hits in the game, with
Lindsey LeCuru and
Brailee Schulte contributing two each and an RBI, while
Sam Parsons and Scharnhorst added one hit a piece. On the hill,
Becca Schemmer threw six innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out six Riverhawks.
"Kacey (Scharnhorst) had an outstanding weekend at the plate and in the field," said head coach
Tracy Gastineau. "She really gave us a much needed boost on both sides of the game."
Flanary led the Northeastern State offense, going 3-for-4 with one run scored at the leadoff spot, while Wooldridge allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and struck out eight in her complete game outing.
"We played inconsistent sometimes, but definitley identified some areas we need to work on," said Gastineau. "We have played a very tough and grueling schedule so far and are looking forward to taking those experiences and work to make them pay off as we get ready to start conference play," she added.
The Owls will return to action on Mar. 8
th at 12 p.m. against (RV) Indiana University Southeast at the Lindenwood-Belleville Tournament.
Fans stay updated on wwuowls.com throughout the 2014 season for full previews and recaps on the softball team.
