OLATHE, Kan.—The William Woods University softball team dropped game one, 5-2, against MidAmerica Nazarene University on Tuesday, but responded with a 5-1 win in game two to split the doubleheader.

MidAmerica Nazarene 5 William Woods University 2
In game one, the Owls (15-14; 4-0 AMC), jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, as Hannah Campbell got things going with an infield single. After stealing second during Sydnae Hatton's at-bat, Hatton also hit an infield single, putting runners on the corners for leading RBI getter, Kacey Scharnhorst.
 
The senior, from St. Peters, Missouri, ripped a triple to left field, scoring Campbell and Hatton, giving the Owls a two run lead.
 
That score remained the same until the bottom of the fifth, as the Pioneers (10-21; 0-4 HAAC), were finally able to get something going against Owls hurler Allison Waskow, by cutting the deficit down to one run, after Macie Jones doubled to left field, scoring Hayley Gately, who reached base on a one out triple.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, things got away from WWU, as the Pioneers scored four runs on two hits, but they were helped out by the Owls committing three errors, which allowed Gately to hit a two out, three run homer over the right field wall, to push the Pioneers lead out to 5-2.
 
With momentum now on its side, MNU's starter Megan Schwindler, was able to shut down the Owls in the top of the seventh and give the Pioneers the three run victory.
 
WWU totaled eight hits in the game and were led by Campbell at the leadoff spot, as she went 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Sam Parsons also added two hits. Hatton, Scharnhorst, Beth Begemann and Caroline Sicht, meanwhile, totaled one hit each.
 
On the rubber, Waskow took the tough loss, as she went 6.0 innings, allowing five runs (one earned), on nine hits and struck out three Pioneers.
 
MNU, totaled nine hits in the game, three of which came off the bat of Gately, who led the team in runs scored (two) and RBI (three). Macie Jones went 2-for-3 with one run scored, while Kaity Wills contributed two hits and one run scored.
 
Schwindler was able to pick up the win inside the circle for MNU, as she went 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out eight.
 
William Woods University 5 MidAmerica Nazarene 2
In game two, it was the Owls again jumping out to the early advantage, as they scored three runs on three hits, while MNU committed two defensive errors, to give WWU a 3-0 lead.
 
In the inning, Hatton and Scharnhorst scored on an error, to make it 2-0. Then ,Shelby LeCuru doubled down the left field line, scoring Emily Murphy, who reached base on a single earlier, to give the team a three run advantage.
 
In the top of the second, the Owls would push its lead out to 4-0, as Scharnhorst grounded out to second, but that allowed Parsons to score from third, who led the inning off with a single, to give the team plenty of breathing room, while it gave Scharnhorst her 25^th RBI on the year.
 
The four run advantage was more than enough for Bre Logan, as the WWU starter was dominant in game two, allowing just one run on four hits in 7.0 innings of work, while striking out three.
 
William Woods would add another run in the seventh to make it 5-0, but the Pioneers spoiled the shutout for Logan in the home half of the inning, as a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jessica Scarlett gave MNU its first run of the game, but it wouldn't be enough, as Logan got Lorena Martinez to strike out to end the game.
 
The Owls offense totaled nine hits in the game, with Hatton and LeCuru each going 2-for-3. Alexi Cavins, Scharnhorst, Murphy and Begemann added the other hits for WWU.
 
The long road-trip continues for William Woods, as they will return to conference play on April 3^rd, traveling to American Midwest Conference (AMC) rival, Park University. First-pitch of the doubleheader will be thrown at 2 p.m.
 
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com this Thursday for a full preview of this conference showdown.

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