Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 OTTAWA, Kan. – The William Woods University softball team opened the 2021 season with a split at Ottawa University. The Owls grabbed a season-opening 3-1 win in game one, but succumbed to an 8-1 loss in game two. 
 
The Owls plated their first run of the season in the top of the fifth. Sydney Wilbeck singled, advanced on Celeste Sermeno's groundout and stole third. She was brought in with Mallory Feldewerth's RBI single.
 
Ottawa evened the score in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
The Owls plated two more in the top of the seventh to take up a 3-1 lead. Emma Taylor led off with a pinch-hit triple. One out later, Sermeno singled to bring her in. Sermeno moved to third on Jaden Swift's single, and Feldewerth hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Sermeno.
 
The Owls' defense held Ottawa from scoring in the bottom of the inning, ending with a 3-1 win.
 
Ottawa took an early 4-0 lead in game two and won 8-1. The Owls scored their lone run of the game was Emma Taylor scoring on Ally Mahoney's ground out to shortstop. 
 
The Owls host Evangel University for the home-opener on Friday, Feb. 26. The doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.