FULTON, Mo.— The No. 19-ranked William Woods University softball team had its 2015 home opener on Saturday afternoon, as the Owls started off the day well, winning 2-0 against Westminster College, but fell in the finale against Briar Cliff University, 7-1.

No. 19 William Woods University 2 Westminster College 0
In game one, it was a pitching battle throughout the seven innings, as the Blue Jays (0-5) started Alyson Hahn, who finished the outing allowing two runs on two hits and struck out four, but the Owls (5-10) countered with senior Julie Scheer, who was stellar, as she went the distance, allowing no runs on five hits and struck out four.
 
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, as senior Caroline Sicht got the inning started with a one out walk. After Hahn got the next Owls batter to ground out, sophomore Hillary Hentges stepped to the dish and was able to work a 2-2 count. On the next offering, Hentges smashed her first home run on the season, over the left field wall, giving WWU a 2-0 lead.
 
That was more than enough run support for Scheer, as she allowed only two hits the final three innings of action and she was able to collect her first win on the year.
 
Tallying the other hit for WWU on the day was Kacey Scharnhorst, as the St. Peters, Missouri, native, tripled to deep right-center field in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Westminster, meanwhile, was led by Bree Peterson offensively, as she went 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Also collecting one hit, included, Allison Biggs, Alyssa Johnson and Kim Morrison.
 
Briar Cliff University 7 No. 19 William Woods University 1
In game two, it was the Chargers (3-1), jumping out to an early 1-0 lead on Owls starter Allison Waskow in the top of the first, as Katlin Briley led the inning of with single. After a sacrifice bunt, Brooke Lyman singled to right, which put runners on the corners for Briar Cliff.
 
Then, during Deanna Ayla at-bat, Lyman attempted to steal second, which forced catcher Madison McCormick to make a throw down to second, but Briley stole home on the play, giving the Chargers a 1-0 lead, while Lyman was eventually tagged out in the run down.
 
In the bottom of the first, WWU responded, as sophomore Hannah Campbell singled to center and stole second during Sydnae Hatton's at-bat. Hatton was able to move Campbell over to third with a sacrifice bunt and then Scharnhorst hit a sacrifice fly to center, which scored Campbell and tied the game up 1-1.
 
In the top of the second, the Chargers were able to regain its one run lead, as Abby Thomsen hit a double to right field, scoring Nicole Romero, who reached base on an error, giving BC a 2-1 advantage.
 
That score remained the same until the top of the sixth inning, as Lyman led the inning off with a double to left. Ayala laid down a sacrifice bunt moving Lyman to third and she was able to score during the next at-bat, as Amy Anderson and the Chargers successfully executed the squeeze play, as Anderson's bunt allowed Lyman to score and make it 3-1.
 
In the top of the seventh, Briar Cliff broke the game open, scoring four runs on one hit and were helped out by two Owl errors to grab a 7-1 advantage. The Owls were unable to get a late rally going in the seventh, as they fell by six runs.
WWU totaled four hits in the game, as Campbell, Hatton, Emily Murphy and Sicht added one hit each. On the rubber, Waskow allowed seven runs (four earned), on six hits and struck out six batters.
 
Briar Cliff, was led by starter Ciara Dotzler, who limited the Owls to one run on four hits and struck out two in her complete game victory. Offensively, the team totaled six hits, led by Lyman going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Ayala went 0-for-1 with two RBI, while Anderson and Thomsen contributed one hit and one RBI each.
 
The Owls will return to Backer Sports Complex on Tuesday, March 10^th, as they host Culver-Stockton College. First-pitch of the doubleheader will be thrown at 2 p.m.
 
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com tomorrow afternoon for a full preview of Tuesday's action.

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