LeCOMPTE, La. – The William Woods University softball team opened the 2023 season at the LCU Invitational hosted by Louisiana Christian University Friday afternoon and into Saturday. The Owls went 1-3 on the weekend, grabbing a 5-4 win over Blue Mountain College in extra innings.

The Owls fell 6-0 to Louisiana State University of Alexandria (LSUA) to open the season and lost 7-1 to host LCU in the second game. On Saturday, they dropped to Jarvis Christian University 8-0 in six innings, but they closed out the tournament with a 5-4 eight inning win over Blue Mountain College.



The Owls play a doubleheader at neighboring NCAA Division III Westminster College on Saturday, Feb. 11. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.




Louisiana State University of Alexandria def. William Woods, 6-0

• LSUA scored all six of their runs in the sixth inning.
• The Owls were limited to just three hits through seven innings (Mia Santos - 1, Ally Mahoney - 1, Katie Gaus - 1).
• Ally Mahoney hit a double in the fifth inning.
• The Owls faced a tough LSUA pitching staff who struck out nine of the Owls' batters.
• Pitching: Jessica Keilholz (0-1) pitched the complete game. She faced 28 batters and struck out one.

Louisiana Christian University def. William Woods, 7-1

• The Owls recorded four hits with Crystal Ruden and Iliana Manzano each recording two (2-3). 
• Taylor Bell brought home Crystal Ruden for the Owls' only run of the game in the third inning on a fielder's choice. 
• Iliana Manzano hit a double in the third inning to advance Ruden into scoring position.
• Pitching: Sarah Randermann pitched 5.0 innings and struck out two. Liv Drawbaugh came in as relief and pitched the final inning.

Jarvis Christian University def. William Woods, 8-0 (6 innings)

• JCU put up five runs in the first inning.
• The Owls were limited to three hits (Crystal Ruden - 1, Ally Mahoney - 1, Arianna Donovan - 1).
• Pitching: Sarah Randermann pitched the complete game. She faced 33 batters and struck out two.

William Woods def. Blue Mountain College, 5-4 (8 innings)

• The Owls won 5-4 in the eighth inning.
• The Owls finished with seven hits. Crystal Ruden was the only hitter with two.
• Taylor Bell and Jaden Swift each recorded a double.
• Arianna Donovan's two RBI single to center field scored Sydney Wilbeck and Sam Abernathy in the top of the eighth.
• The Owls struck first with a sacrifice fly from Iliana Manzano to score Crystal Ruden in the first inning.
• The Owls evened the score at 3-3 in the fifth inning with Jaden Swift's RBI double to score Arianna Donovan and Crystal Ruden's RBI single to score Callie Zarcone. 
• Pitching: Jessica Keilholz (1-1) pitched the complete game win. She tossed 8.0 innings and struck out one.

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