Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FULTON, Mo.— The newly No. 23-ranked William Woods University softball team extended its winning streak to nine games in game one, as the Owls defeated Park University 5-2, however, the Pirates played spoiler in the nightcap, defeating WWU 6-4.

The Owls (26-15; 12-2 AMC) land at No. 23 in the latest NAIA poll, after winning eight straight games and playing arguably the toughest schedule in the NAIA. The placing in the top 25 is not only the first time this season for the Owls, but also the first time since 2009, when the team was ranked No. 14 in the country.

William Woods University 5 Park University 2
In game one, starter MacKenzie Bowden got out of the top of the first, after back-to-back hits by Park (28-8; 14-4 AMC), but then before the Owls could start their home half of the inning, the rain and lighting came which delayed the game for over two hours.
 
After the long delay, Hannah Campbell led the bottom of the first off with a double to left and advanced to third on Shelby LeCuru's sacrifice bunt. Junior Kacey Scharnhorst then hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Campbell and giving WWU the early 1-0 advantage.
 
In the bottom of the second, the Owls plated two more runs on two hits, as Macy Wierschem got things going with a one-out single. Alexi Cavins and Caroline Sicht worked consecutive walks, which loaded the bases for pinch-hitter Hillary Hentges. The freshman battled at the plate and forced Kaily Purtle to throw her third straight walk, which scored Wierschem to give WWU a 2-0 lead.
 
Kelli Wenberg came on in relief of Purtle and allowed a single to Campbell, which brought home Cavins to extend the Owls lead to 3-0 after two innings of play.
 
The Pirates would get one of those runs back in the top of the third, as Brooke Kunkel hit a two-out double to center, scoring Callie Beaver from second and now trailed 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, hot-hitting Emily Murphy extended her hit streak to 10 games, as she hit a double off the left field wall, which scored Lindsey LeCuru from second, who hit a two-out double to center. The Owls would go on to add another run in the sixth and headed to the top of the seventh up 5-2.
 
In the top of the seventh, Beaver and Willard hit back-to-back singles for the Pirates, but Bowden got Kunkel to pop out to second for the first out in the inning. Shae Boyd then forced a walk, loading up the bases for Emilee Vance, however, she couldn't capitalize, as she popped out to first for the second out.
 
Megan Palmer came to the dish and singled to center, scoring Beaver and cutting the Owls lead down to 5-2, but that would be as close as they would get, as Sydney Keast hit a weak ground ball right in front of Wierschem who picked the ball up and stepped on home for the force out to end the game.
 
Bowden picked up her 14^th victory on the season, allowing two runs on 11 hits, but needed 149 pitches to get through the game. The offense totaled eight hits, led by Campbell going 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Wierschem went a perfect 2-for-2 with one run scored, while Scharnhorst was the leading RBI getter with two.
 
Park University 6 William Woods University 4  
Game two started off strong for William Woods, as leadoff hitter Campbell smacked her second home run on the season on a 3-2 count over the left field wall to make it 1-0 WWU. After a Shelby LeCuru single to center, Scharnhorst tripled to deep right-center, scoring Shelby LeCuru to make it 2-0.
 
The team would score one more run off the bat of Murphy, who extended her hit streak to a career-high 11 games, scoring Scharnhorst and putting the Owls ahead 3-0 on Park University's ace Allie Reynolds.
 
The team would score another in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead, but that advantage was cut down to one in the bottom of the second, as Park scored three runs on four hits.
 
After a scoreless top of the third for WWU, Palmer hit a one-out single to right field and she was able to score on Shaya Kinsey's double to right, which tied the game up at 4-4. After a single and a strikeout, Kimberly Breyfogle singled to left, scoring Kinsey and gave Park its first lead of the game at 5-4.
 
The Pirates would go on to add another run in the top of the sixth and behind the pitching performances of Reynolds and relief pitcher Purtle, Park would spoil the Owls nine-game winning streak and its celebration into the top 25 poll, taking the finale by two runs.
 
WWU totaled four runs on seven hits, led by Campbell and Wierschem again totaling two hits each, while Shelby LeCuru, Scharnhorst and Murphy added one hit each.
 
Despite the rough start, Reynolds picks up the win for Park, throwing five innings allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out five, while Purtle, who took the loss in game one, pitched two innings of shutout ball for the save. The Pirates totaled 11 hits in game two, led by Palmer going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, including hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the second.
 
The Owls have a couple days off before they return to action on Friday Apr. 11^th against Harris-Stowe State University. First-pitch from Backer Sports Complex will be thrown at 2 p.m., with game two following at 4 p.m.
 
Fans stay updated on wwuowls.com throughout the 2014 season for full previews and recaps on the Owls softball team.

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