COLUMBIA, Mo. – The William Woods University softball team swept Stephen College in American Midwest Conference action on Tuesday night. The Owls defeated the Stars, 14-1 (5 inn.), before winning game two, 6-3.
 
William Woods outscored the Stars 20-4 during the doubleheader. Madison McCormick drove in a team-high four RBI in the contest as she hit .500 (3-for-6) over the two games. Hillary Hentges and Brailee Schulte both hit one home run on the night.
 
The Owls return to action on Saturday April 9th when they travel to Hannibal, Mo. to face Hannibal-LaGrange in AMC doubleheader action. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.
 
Game One
Game Flow
The Owls struck first in the AMC conference game as they loaded the bases in the top of the first. Madison McCormick came up and doubled to deep right field, clearing the bases and taking a 3-0 lead over the Stars.
 
The Stars answered back in the bottom of the inning. Monica Nakamatsu doubled to center and came into score on a Katie Heaton Single. Allison Waskow did not allow a run after that and struck out two ending the inning.
 
William Woods extended its lead to 6-1 in the top of the second inning. With Shelby LeCuru on third base, Hannah Campbell singled to right-center scoring LeCuru. After Campbell stole second base and advanced to third on an error, Brailee Schulte hit a two run home run over the left field fence putting the Owls ahead 6-1.
 
After the Stars collected two hits in the first inning, Waskow settled down and did not allow a hit to Stephens until the bottom of the fourth inning. Sarah Dooley hit a double to leftfield to lead off the inning however, she did not come around to score as Waskow collected three outs.
 
The Owls offense continued to click as they added to its lead in the top of the fourth inning. Olivia Imhoff singled to lead off the inning and Sydnae Hatton followed with a triple to right field scoring Imhoff. Campbell followed with a double down the left field line scoring Hatton extending the lead to 8-1.
 
William Woods offense was not done as they added six runs on four hits and take advantage of three Stephens errors in the top of the fifth inning. Hatton collected two RBIs on a double to left center and Schultee added another RBI as she hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Madison McCormick added its last run of the contest with a double to left field and after four and a half innings, the Owls led 14-1.
 
The Stars were down to its last at-bats in the bottom of the fifth inning and Waskow was looking for the complete game. The Stars Gerica Curry singled to start the inning before Waskow retired the next two hitters retired. After a single up the middle Katie Heaton grounded out to end the game and the Owls took game one, 14-1, over the Stars.
 
By the Numbers
14 – The Owls scored 14 runs in the contest against Stephens
13 – WWU collected 13 hits in the contest
8 – Allison Waskow struck out eight Stars in the game
2 – Four Owls collected two hits in the contest
4 – Madison McCormick collected four RBI in the contest
3 – Sydane Hatton Brailee Schulte each collected three RBI
1 – Allison Waskow only allowed one run in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Allison Waskow, 5 IP, 5H, 1R (1 ER), 0BB, 8K's
Stephens – Katelyn Rush, 2 IP, 6H, 6 R (6 ER), 1BB, 1K
 
Game Two
Game Flow
After a scoreless two and a half innings, the Stars broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning. Jessica Kane singled and advanced to second on an error. After the second out of the inning, Katie Heaton singled through the hole at shortstop, scoring Kane and the Stars took a 1-0 lead.
 
The game remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth when the Owls offense scored four runs on four hits taking a 4-1 lead after the frame. With runners on the corners, Ari Arnold laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored the runner from third and moved Allie Massey to second. On the play, Arnold reached by a Stars fielder's choice. LeCuru followed with a double, clearing the bases and growing the lead for the Owls. Campbell single to right-center scoring LeCuru and the Owls led 4-1 after the inning.
 
After taking the lead, William Woods did not allow Stephens to score again until the bottom of the seventh inning. WWU extended its lead when Hillary Hentges hit a two run home run over the center field fence growing the lead to 6-1.
 
The Stars started slowly started coming back on Jacques in the bottom of the seventh. Kane led with a walk and Monica Nakamatsu doubled scoring Kane. After a groundout advanced, Nakamatsu to third base, Sarah Dooley reached on a walk. Bernadette Willis hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Nakamatsu cutting the lead down to three, 6-3. Jacques settled down and retired the next hitter ending the game and the Owls came away with the 6-3 victory.
 
By the Numbers
6 – The Owls scored six runs in the contest against the Stars
7 – WWU collected seven hits
5 – Sierra Jaquces struck out five in the contest
1 – Hillary Hentges hit a home run in the game
2 – Hillary Hentges and Shelby LeCuru drove in two runs each in the game
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Sierra Jacques, 7 IP, 8H, 3R (3 ER), 3BB's, 5K's
Stephens – Miranda Carlisle, 5.1 IP, 6H, 6R (6 ER), 0BB, 1K