FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University softball opened its 2017 home schedule Saturday afternoon as the Owls swept visiting Briar Cliff University. WWU took game one, 4-0, and won game two, 3-1.
 
Dacrie Depping led the Owls with three hits in the doubleheader. Depping, and Amanda Bouchey each drove in two runs in the contests. WWU's pitching staff only allowed eight hits for the double header. In game one, Sierra Jacques pitched a complete game shutout to win the win. WWU improves to 5-2 on the season after the sweep.
 
WWU returns to action at Owl Field on Sunday, February 19 when they host No. 20 Central Methodist University. First pitch of the double-header is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game One
Game Flow
The Owls came out in the bottom of the first inning when Hannah Campbell hit a leadoff single and then stole second to put herself in scoring position. Dacrie Depping had a single to deep right field, scoring Campbell and putting herself at second base. That would be the only run scored and the Owls led 1-0.
 
It was not until the third inning when the Owls scored again, with Depping leading off the inning with a double to left center. Beth Begemann then singled to left, putting runners on first and second, with one out. Amanda Bouchey came up and smacked a double to deep left-center scoring both Depping and Begemann, extending the Owls lead to 3-0.
 
The Chargers knocked on the door in the fourth putting runners on second and third, but could not string enough hits together to score.
 
The Owls would score one more run in the bottom of the fourth when Olivia Imhoff singled to left, and stole second and third base, setting Dacrie Depping up for an RBI. Depping singled to right, and Imhoff scored 4-0. It would then go three up three down for the rest of the game, Owl defeating the Chargers, 4-0.
 
By the Numbers
4 – WWU scored four runs in the first game
8 – The Owls collected eight hits in the contest
3 – Dacrie Depping led the Owls with three hits
2 – WWU hit two doubles in the contest
3 – The Owls had three stolen bases against the Chargers
2 – Depping and Amanda Bouchey had two RBI's each in game one
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Sierra Jacques, 7 IP, 4H, 0R (0ER), 1BB, 3K's
BCU – Summer Williams, 6IP, 8H, 4R (4ER), 3BB's, 2K's
 
Game Two
Game Flow
The Chargers came out strong in the first, as Danielle Ishii capitalizing on Owl error and teammate Summer Williams doubled to deep right-center. With runners on second and third, the next two Chargers could not get the job done, stranding two runners on base.
 
In their first time up, Hannah Campbell started the inning with a leadoff triple, and teammate Brailee Schulte scored Campbell, putting the Owls ahead 1-0. The Chargers answered back scoring a run after Nicole Romero doubled to deep left- center and Mikaela Rodriguez reached on a walk. Rodriguez scored on Romero's double, tying the game 1-1.
 
The Owls offense answered with Alli Massey's single followed by a sacrifice bunt by Lindsay Van Tress, putting Massey in scoring position. Jessica Bradfisch then singled, advancing Massey to third. Massey then scored on a sacrifice fly by Alexi Cavins, putting the Owls ahead 2-1.
 
It was not until the bottom of the fifth that the Owls offense came back alive when Hannah Campbell reached base by getting hit by a pitch and Alexis Armontrout laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Campbell into scoring position. Brailee Schulte and Beth Begeman then both reached on a walk, loading the bases. Alli Massey lined out to left, scoring Campbell and that would be the end of the threat, extending the Owls lead to 3-1. The Owls would hold the Chargers to one run, and swept the Chargers.
 
By the Numbers
4 – Madison Ausfahl limited the Chargers to four hits
5 – WWU collected five hits in the contest
5 – The Owls had five different had a hit in the contest
1 – Brailee Schulte, Alli Massey and Alexi Cavins all collected an RBI
3 – William Woods drew three walks in the contest
5 – After the Sweep, the Owls now are 5-2 on the season.
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Madison Ausfahl, 7IP, 4H, 1R (1ER), 1BB, 3K's
BCU – Ciara Dotzleer, 6IP, 5H, 3R (3ER), 3BB's, 2K's