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Box Score 2 LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Rylee Hagens had a pair of doubles for William Woods (4-3) as the Owls picked up a split at University of Saint Mary (2-3) on Sunday afternoon. After falling 4-1 in the opener, Woods cranked out nine runs and cruised to a 9-5 game two win.
"We are still searching for consistency on all sides of the game," said head coach
Tracy Gastineau. "We have moments both offensively and defensively that are promising, we just need to put those together."
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Spires loaded the bases in the bottom of the first but Wood was able to escape the threat as
Micaiah Cordell settled into a rhythm and struck out back-to-back USM batters.
The Spires were able to score a pair of runs in the bottom of both the third and fourth innings and hold on for the win despite a solo shot by Abby Mahoney in the top of the fifth.
In game two, the Owls offense caught fire, as Woods plated three runs in the top of the first.
Sydney Wilbeck opened the hitting with a one-out single, with Hagens following with a double to right center. Mahoney plated Wilbeck with a hard-hit ball that USM shortstop Jessica Strandlund was lucky to get a glove on.
After a walk loaded the bases,
Iliana Manzano looped a single into right field to score Hagens and
Ella Aguiar followed with a single to deep center that looked to score a pair of runs for the Owls. Mahoney crossed the plate first, but Brooklyn Spillman had to take a big detour around USM's catcher awaiting the throw from center and was tagged out. After Aguiar tried to take second and was thrown out, Gastineau came out to have a conversation with the home plate umpire and make the case for a blocking the plate call, but ultimately the call on the field stood and Woods headed to the dugout.
USM managed to score a pair of runs in the bottom of the second, but WWU uncorked four runs in the top of the second - the final run on an error by USM's catcher - and added singles in the fourth and fifth innings to pick up the win.
The Owls continue their road swing to start the season, facing Ottawa University on Feb. 24. First pitch in the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.
