Fort Worth, Texas - The William Woods University softball team closed out the NAIA Cowtown Classic by splitting its two games. The Owls opened the day with a 4-3 victory over Bellevue University and dropped its last contest, 9-0, to No. 1 Oklahoma City University.
 
The Owls return to action on Saturday, February 18th when they host Briar Cliff University at Owl Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. This will be the Owls home opener. 
 
Game One
Game Flow
Locked in a pitchers dual the Owls and Bruins offenses could not get anything going through the first three and a half innings of the contest. The first hits of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Erin Sharpe and Emily Gigax singled for the Bruins. After they reached base, Bre Logan got the next two hitters out to retire the side and keep the game scoreless.
 
The Bruins struck first in the contest as they scored two runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michaela Miller collected an RBI single putting Bellevue ahead 1-0. Later in the inning, Gigax singled home the second run of the inning and the Owls trailed 2-0.
 
WWU got the offense going in the top of the sixth inning. With two runners on and two outs, the scored its first run of the contest on a Hillary Hentges single to left field. Brailee Schulte came into score on a throw into and the game was tied at 2-2. Alli Massey came up and singled to short putting runners on the corners. However, the Owls could not get another run across in the inning and heading to the bottom of the fifth the game was tied at 2-2.
 
After two outs in the bottom of the inning, the Bruins offense drew three straight walks to load the bases. After walking three straight, Logan settled down and got Erin Sharpe to fly out ending the inning.
 
William Woods broke the tie in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Hannah Campbell tripled to deep right center. She scored on a Courtney Schendt's error putting the Owls ahead, 3-2. Later in the inning, Brailee Schulte singled to right scoring one and extending the Owls lead to 4-2.
 
Bellevue tried to mount a comeback in the contest as they scored one in the bottom of the seventh inning, however, that would be all they would get as they would leave two runners on base in scoring position to end the game.
 
By the Numbers
7 – Bre Logan struck out seven Bruins in the contest
7 – WWU collected seven hits in the first game of the day
2 – Hannah Campbell and Brailee Schulte led the Owls with two hits each
1 – Hannah Campbell collected one triple in the contest
7 – WWU walked seven Bruin hitters in the contest
1 – Three Owls collected one RBI in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
Bellevue – Kelli Fisher, 7 IP, 7H, 4 R (3 ER), 0BB, 6K's
WWU – Bre Logan, 7 IP, 8 H, 3 R (3 ER), 7BB's, 7K's
 
WWU vs. Oklahoma City
Game Flow
After a scoreless first inning, the number 1 ranked team in the NAIA struck first as they scored one run in the top of the second inning. McRay Cayton came into score on an Owls error, putting the Stars ahead 1-0.
 
Oklahoma City's starter Georgia Wall kept the Owls offense off balance for the Owls could not get anything going and WWU could only get three hits off Wall in the contest. William Woods first hit came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Beth Begemann singled to centerfield.
 
Prior to the Owls first hit the Stars and grew its lead to 4-0 over the Owls. Cayton, Laci Jyner and Jaci Smith all collected RBI singles extending the lead.
 
The Owls collected its second of the contest when Hannah Campbell led off the inning with a single down the right field line. After her single the next three Owls were retired. WWU collected its last hit in the bottom of the seventh inning when Alli Massey singled to right field but she was stranded on first.
 
Oklahoma City added five more runs in the contest, two in the fifth and three in the seventh inning, taking a 9-0 and defeating the Owls 9-0.
 
By the Numbers
3 – WWU collected three hits against No. 1 Oklahoma City
7 – The Owls struck out seven times against Georgia Wall
3 – William Woods struck out three Stars in the contest
3 – WWU committed three errors in the contest
3 – Three Owls had one hit in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Allison Waskow, 5 IP, 10 H, 6 R (4 ER), 3BB's, 3K's
OCU – Georgia Wall, 7 IP, 3 H, 0R (0 ER), 1BB, 7K's