PARKVILLE, Mo.—The William Woods University softball team suffered its first losses in American Midwest Conference (AMC) play on Friday afternoon, as the Owls fell 4-1 in game one against Park University and 8-5 in game two.

Park University 4 William Woods University 1
In game one, it was the Pirates (18-9; 10-3 AMC), jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, as Shelby Bendure and Brooke Kunkel got things going with consecutive singles to start the inning.
 
Allison Waskow got the next batter to strikeout, but Lindsey Derry collected the third single in the inning, which loaded up the bases for pitcher Allie Reynolds. She was able to reach on a fielder's choice, but Bendure was out at home for the second out.
 
Then, Kim Breyfogle stepped to the dish and she was able to hit a single, scoring Derry and Kunkel, to give the Pirates a two run lead.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Park would extend its advantage out to 4-0, after scoring two runs on three hits, while being helped out by one WWU (15-16; 4-2 AMC), error.
 
That score remained the same until the top of the seventh, as Shelby LeCuru got the team started with a single up the middle. Julie Scheer then pinch-hit and she doubled to left, which put runners on second and third with nobody out.
 
Another pinch-hitter, Beth Begemann, singled to center, scoring LeCuru, which cut the lead down to 4-1. Reynolds, and the Park defense, however, were able to shut down the Owls offense and hang on for the three run victory.
 
WWU totaled five hits in the game, with LeCuru, Scheer, Begemann, Parsons and Madison McCormick recording one each.
 
On the rubber, Waskow took the tough loss, as she went 6.0 innings, allowing four runs (zero earned) on nine hits and struck out five.
 
Reynolds, meanwhile, went the distance for the Pirates, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out two. The offense spread out nine hits on the diamond, with Brooke Kunkel going 2-for-3 with one run scored. Seven other Park players recorded one hit in the game.
 
Park University 8 William Woods University 5
Game two was a wild one, as after a scoreless first inning, in the bottom of the second, the Pirates scored six runs on five hits, to take what they thought, was a commanding 6-0 lead.
 
In the top of the third, LeCuru reached base on a Park defensive error and was able to move onto second, after McCormick singled to left field.
 
After a strikeout, Hannah Campbell reached on a fielder's choice, which loaded up the bases for pinch-hitter, Emily Murphy. Reynolds, however, got Murphy to pop out, recording a big second out.
 
Senior Kacey Scharnhorst then came to the plate and put the momentum back on the Owls side, as she hit her second home run on the season, while tallying her 26^th, 27^th, 28^th and 29^th RBI on the year, to narrow the deficit down to 6-4.
 
In the top of the fifth, Scharnhorst would come through again, as she singled down the left field line, scoring McCormick, who led the inning off with a double, to put the score at 6-5.
 
Park would get that run back in the home half of the fifth, as Breyfogle doubled to center, which scored Reynolds, who singled with two outs earlier in the inning, to make it a 7-5 game.  The Pirates would score another run in the sixth and go on for the 8-5 win.
 
WWU scored five runs on six hits, with Scharnhorst leading the way, going 2-for-4 with one run scored and adding a game-high five RBI. McCormick went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Sydnae Hatton also went 2-for-3 in the game.
 
Bre Logan, a Columbia, Missouri, native, was handed the loss, as she went 3.2 innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, while striking out one.
 
Park's offense totaled 12 hits in the game, with Breyfogle and Megan Palmer each going 3-for-3, while combining for three runs scored and four RBI. Reynolds and Callie Beaver totaled two hits each and one run scored.
 
On the rubber, Reynolds, picked up her second win on the day, going 7.0 innings, allowing five runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out seven Owls.
 
The busy part of the April schedule will continue for WWU, as they will look to bounce back on Monday, April 6^th against Lindenwood University-Belleville on the road. First-pitch of the doubleheader will be thrown at 5 p.m.
 
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com on Sunday for a full preview of Monday's games.

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