FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University softball team split its American Midwest Conference doubleheader with Lindenwood University – Belleville on Tuesday afternoon at Owl Field at the Backer Sports Complex.
 
The Owls took game one, 8-0, in five innings. WWU dropped game two, 8-2 to the visiting Lady Lynx. The Owls collected 14 hits on the day, including three extra base hits. WWU hit .326 as a team against the Lady Lynx.
 
The Owls return to action on Sunday, April 22nd when they travel to Columbia, Missouri to face the Cougars of Columbia College. First-pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game One
Game Flow
The Owls came out strong in the bottom of the first inning when Emma Walker singled and was later scored by Alli Massey, who also singled, putting the Owls ahead 1-0.
 
Lindsay Van Tress would start things off in the bottom of the second by hitting a leadoff single and Lindy Wilson followed with a single putting Owls on first and second. After a successful sacrifice bunt by Bri Devellano, the Owls were now in scoring position. Another single by Jessica Bradfisch scored Van Tress and the Owls extended their lead to 2-0.
 
It was not until the bottom of the third that the Owls bats would ignite, and Walker would be the spark by hitting a leadoff homerun. Emily Robinett and Alli Massey both reached on walks and Devyn Burton singled to put runners on second and third and on the play Robinett scored on an error by the Lady Lynx, growing the Owls lead to 3-0. A couple batters later, Van Tress would also reach on a walk to load the bases. Devellano smacked a double and scored Massey and Burton, growing the lead to 5-0. Another single by Ari Arnold scored Van Tress and the Owls found themselves up 8-0.
 
Eight runs were enough for Owls starter Allison Waskow. Waskow came out and kept the bats of the Lady Lynx quiet for the contest. They did not get their first hit off Waskow until the third inning. Waskow ran into a little bit of trouble in the fourth inning but she left two Lady Lynx stranded.
 
Facing the mercy rule, the Lady Lynx continued to attempt to string hits together, but the Owls defense would not allow any runs to be scored and were able to force the mercy rule winning 8-0 in five innings.
 
By the Numbers
8 – The Owls scored eight runs in game one
3 – Allison Waskow only allowed the Lady Lynx to score three hits
10 – WWU had 10 hits in the first game
2 – Emma Walker and Lindsay Van Tress led the Owls with two hits each
2 – Bri Devellano led the Owls with two RBIs
5 – Five different owls had an RBI in the contest
8 – Eight different Owls collected a hit
1 – Emma Walker hit one home run
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Allison Waskow, 5 IP, 3H, 0R (0ER), 1BBs, 4Ks
LU-B – Madison Mountain, 2 IP, 7H, 6R (6ER), 2BBs, 0Ks
 
Game Two
Game Flow
The Lady Lynx came out swinging in the top of the first. With two runners on, Paige Kuefler singled home two, which put Lindenwood-Belleville ahead, 2-0.
 
The Owls started to chip away at the Lady Lynx lead as Arnold reached on a walk and was later advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Walker. Robinett hit a double and scoring Arnold and putting the Owls down one, 2-1.
 
The Owls scored in the bottom of the second tying the game. With runners on first and second, Bradfisch sacrificed the Owls over to base, but the Lady Lynx committed an error which allowed the Owls to tie the game at 2-2.
 
The Lady Lynx scored two more runs in the top of the third after a two-run shot by Amanda Vasquez, 4-2. They would score again in the top of the fourth, taking a 5-2 lead after a bases loaded hit by pitch.
 
Lindenwood-Bellevilel extending their lead to six, 8-2 in the top of the fifth inning. In the frame, the Lady Lynx scored on a wild pitch and scored two on an Owls error.
 
The Owls offense could not string anything else together for the rest of the contest and would be defeated 8-2 by the Lady Lynx.
 
By the Numbers
4 – The Owls had four hits in the second game of the doubleheader
2 – WWU scored two runs in game two
5 – At the plate, the Owls drew five walks
2 – Emily Robinett led the Owls with two hits
1 – Jessica Bradfisch and Robinett had an RB In in the game
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Madison Ausfahl, 4 IP, 7H, 7R (6ER), 2BBs, 2Ks
LU-B – Alyssa Gallardo, 7 IP, 4H, 2R (1ER), 5BBs, 1K