Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 HATTIESBURG, Miss.— The (RV) William Woods University softball team couldn't get much going against No. 9-ranked William Carey's pitching staff, as the Owls were held to one run on two hits in tonight's doubleheader, falling in game one 4-0 and game two 2-1.
William Carey University 4 William Woods University 0
The Owls (17-14; 5-1 AMC) offense, was held quiet all game by William Carey's (26-2; 7-1 SSAC) pitcher Brittany LeBlanc, who limited WWU to just one-hit in her complete game shutout outing and struck out five batters on just 82 pitches.
Both LeBlanc and
MacKenzie Bowden, went pitch-for-pitch the first four innings, as they only allowed two hits and combined to strike out six batters.
The Lady Crusaders, however, finally broke through in the home half of the fifth, as Lindsey Webb hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring pinch-runner Kayla Byrd to take the 1-0 lead. Then, Relanda McFarland's groundout to second, scored Ramsi Dykes to extend the advantage out to two runs after five innings of play.
William Carey would go on to add two more runs on the sixth on three hits and headed to the top of the seventh up by four runs and LeBlanc was looking to keep intact her no-hitter.
After she retired the first batter, junior
Kacey Scharnhorst broke up the no-hitter with a single to right field. The offense, however, couldn't mount a comeback, and the Owls dropped game one by four runs.
Bowden took the tough loss, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and struck out five Lady Crusaders. Janessa Dedeaux was the lone player in the game to have more than hit, as she went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI for WCU.
William Carey University 2 William Woods University 1
The nightcap proved to be more of the same on the mound, as Owls pitcher
Becca Schemmer and William Carey's Brittany Lang stifled opposing hitters all evening.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the sixth, as
Brailee Schulte led the inning off with a walk for WWU and she advanced to second on
Brittany Bexten's sacrifice bunt.
Sydnae Hatton then came in to pinch-run for Schulte and she was able to score on a defensive error and give the Owls its first lead of the day at 1-0.
That lead, however, was short-lived, as the Lady Crusaders tied the game up at 1-1, scoring one run on one hit and were helped out by two defensive errors by the Owls. After the Owls couldn't retake the lead in the top of the seventh, Caroline Walker led WCU off with a walk and she advanced to third on Sarah Beckman's base hit to right.
The team ended up scoring the game-winning run on a wild pitch and took the finale from WWU with a one-run victory.
The Owls offense was again held to one hit, as
Emily Murphy singled in the top of the third inning. Schemmer pitched very well for WWU, allowing two runs on six hits, while Lang picks up the victory for the Lady Crusaders, allowing one run on one hit and struck out 10.
The Owls will now travel back to Mobile, Ala., and take on Bishop State Community College on Saturday. First-pitch will be thrown at 11 a.m., while game two will follow at 1 p.m.
Fans stay updated on wwuowls.com on Friday evening for a full preview of this weekend's action.
