FAYETTE, Mo. – The William Woods University Softball team concluded its 2016 regular season on Tuesday evening as they split a non-conference doubleheader with No. 21 Central Methodist University. The Owls dropped game one, 9-5, but responded in game two with a 5-3 win.
 
The Owls return to action on Friday, April 29th when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Ark. to face Walliams Baptist College in the AMC Opening Round. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game One
Game Flow
Central Methodist scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Addyson Reardon singled home two runs in the inning putting the Eagles ahead, 2-0.
 
The game remind 2-0 until the third inning when the Owls offense started clicking. After a strike out, Sydnae Hatton followed with a single to second base. She advanced out on a ground out and to third on a wild pitch. Brailee Schulte walked putting two runners on base for the Owls. Hillary Hentges followed with a double to deep left center scoring one. Madison McCormick followed with a single down the right field line scoring two and putting the Owls ahead, 3-2.
 
The Owls grew the lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning. Hatton singled with two outs to get the Owls offense going. She then stole second base and came into score on a single by Hannah Campbell.
 
Central Methodist broke the game open and regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Eagles jumped on Owls starter Bre Logan as she scored six runs on four hits and took advantage of one Owls error. After four innings of play, the Owls trailed 8-4.
 
William Woods continued to battle and with runners on the corners Amanda Bouchey, who was pinch hitting for the Owls, singled to left center scoring one and trimming the Eagles lead down to 8-5.
 
The Eagles extended its lead back to four runs when Lauren Geringer hit a home run to center field. The Eagles continued to battle but could not get anything going in the sixth and seventh innings. The Owls dropped game one, 9-5.
 
By the Numbers
11 – The Owls collected 11 hits in game one
4 – WWU had four players collect two or more hits in the contest
2 – Madison McCormick collected two RBI's to lead the Owls
3 – The Owls drew three walks in the game
5 – The Owls scored five runs in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Bre Logan, 3IP, 6H, 7R (6ER), 4BB's, 4K's
CMU – Erin Enke, 3IP, 3H, 3R (3ER), 3BB's, 5K's
 
Game Two
Game Flow
William Woods found itself down early in game two as the Eagles offense scored in the bottom of the first inning. With back-to-back singles the Eagles scored when Shelby LeCuru fired a throw into left field. After the first inning, the Owls trailed 1-0.
 
The Owls bounced back in the fourth inning as they took its first lead of the game. After the Eagles made a pitching change, the Owls bats came to life. The Owls scored two runs on three hits in the frame. With runners on the corners, LeCuru singled to right center scoring two on the playing taking the lead 2-1.
 
Central Methodist bounced back taking the lead again in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, and two on, Geringer doubled to deep right center scoring two and taking a 3-2 lead over the Owls.
 
William Woods regained the lead in the fifth inning, as Brailee Schulte and Hillary Hentges recorded back to back singles to get the Owls offense going. Alli Massey followed with an RBI single tying the game at 3-3. The Owls broke the tie game on a single by Ari Arnold. The Owls led 4-3 after four and a half innings of play.
 
The Owls added on its fifth run of the game in the sixth inning. With two outs, Braliee Schulte doubled to right center and scored on an RBI single by Hentges.
 
Central Methodist continued to battle and looked to have an answer for the Owls in the sixth. With one out, the Eagles had runners on second and third base. Allison Waskow settled down and struck out Alyson Fuemmeler. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, but Waskow got Hannah Blackmon popped out to second to end the inning.
 
After the Owls were retired in order in the top of the seventh, Waskow got Reardon to ground out to the her to start the inning off. After a walk, brought the tying run to the plate. Waskow got Bailey Fidler to ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the game and the Owls earned a double header split.
 
By the Numbers
13 – William Woods collected 13 hits in the contest
5 – The Owls scored five runs in the contest
4 – WWU struck out four hitters in the contest
6 – The Owls had six hitters in the contest collect two or more hits
2 – Shelby LeCuru collected two hits in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Allison Waskow, 7IP, 8H, 3R (2ER), 4BB's, 4K's
CMU – Haley Kinnison, 3IP, 3H, 0R (0ER), 1BB's, 3K's