FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon with visiting Missouri Valley College. The Vikings took game one, 5-1, before the Owls rebounding taking game two, 3-2, in eight innings.
 
The Owls return to action on Saturday, April 7th when they host Park University in AMC action. First-pitch of the doubleheader is set for 2 p.m.
 
Game One
Game Flow
The Vikings came right out the gate in their first at bats against the Owls. It began with a leadoff single and Summer Solovitch collected an RBI single giving Missouri Valley an early 1-0 lead.
The Owls and Vikings then battled it out for the next five innings neither defense allowing anything through the infield. The Owls did not get its first hit against the Vikings until the bottom of the fourth inning when Alli Massey singled to right field.
 
It was not until the top of the sixth when the Vikings decided to extend their lead by four runs. It started with a leadoff single. With one out, Sara Jones doubled socring one. They scored another run on a ground out, an Owls error and an RBI triple. Heading to the bottom of the sixth the Owls trailed 5-0.
 
WWU did not get anything going until the bottom of the seventh inning. After an Emily Robinett walk, Alli Massy picked up her second hit of the game. Her second hit was an RBI double that got the Owls on the board. Devyn Burton followed a batter later with a single to right field putting runners on the corners. However, the Owls could not push another run across the plate and the Owls dropped game one, 5-1.
 
By the Numbers
1 – The Owls offense only scored one run in game one
3 – WWU collected three hits in game one
2 – Alli Massey had two of the three hits for the Owls
1 – Alli Massey collected the only RBI for WWU
3 – The Owls committed three errors in the game
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Allison Waskow, 7IP, 7H, 5R (3ER), 2BBs, 0Ks
MVC – Shelby Conklin, 7IP, 3H, 1R (1ER), 3BBs, 1K
 
Game Two
Game Flow
The Owls and the Vikings began game one in similar fashion, not allowing any runs to be scored. In the first inning, Missouri Valley, looked as if they would get a run as they had a runner on third with one out, but she got thrown out at home plate on a ball hit to the shortstop. After that the game remained scoreless until the top of the third.
 
The Vikings would ultimately score first in the top of the third inning when Mackenzie Bilger doubled with one out and would later be scored by a single from Autumn Hughes putting the Vikings ahead, 1-0.
 
The Owls would make their own chaos in the bottom of the fifth when Lindy Wilson capitalized on a Viking error and made it on base and advance to second on a stolen base. With a deep fly ball from Ari Arnold, Wilson would get the help she needed to advance to third. Darcie Depping put the ball in play and the Vikings tried to get Wilson at the plate, but the throw was late and Wilson scored tying the game at 1-1. WWU could not get another run in and the game stayed tied at 1-1.
 
The game remained tied and the Vikings looked to break the tie in the top of the seventh. Sabrina George doubled to lead off the inning. After the next two hitters were retired, Shelby Prather reached on a walk. Autumn Hughes reached on an Owls error, loading the bases. However, Bre Logan got the next hitter out and the Owls came to the plate.
 
WWU could not get anything going and the game would go to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, the international tie breaker was used and after a single by Kaila Dewitt put runners on the corners. Sara Jones added an RBI single putting the Vikings ahead, 2-1.
 
The Owls came up and with Alli Massey at the plate and Jessica Bradfisch on second, Massey smacked a double to score Bradfisch, and the Owls found themselves all tied up once again. With Massey standing on second with no outs, Amanda Bouchey sacrificed her at bat to advance her teammate to third base. Lindsay Van Tress would be the one to come up clutch with a hit to deep left center that would be a walk off single, scoring Massey and defeating the Vikings, 3-2.
 
By the Numbers
8 – The Owls had eight hits in game two
3 – WWU scored three runs in game two
2 – Ari Arnold had two hits in the contest
3 – Alli Massey had three hits in game two
1 – Lindsey Van Tress collected one hit, which was the game winning hit
5 – Five different Owls had a hit
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Bre Logan, 8IP, 8H, 2R (1ER), 1BBs, 2Ks
MVC – Dana Flanagan, 7.2IP, 8H, 3R (2ER), 1BBs, 5Ks