COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sarah Randermann struck out four in two innings of relief work as William Woods (19-25, 9-9 AMC) locked in a 9-1 win over Stephens (16-28, 8-10 AMC) in the resumption of the April 7 meeting between the teams. The resumption of the contest - originally declared a forfeit but later declared a halted game - was not without an additional consultation of the rule book, as the game was called to an early end in the top of the seventh due to rain creating unplayable conditions, after Woods had tacked on an extra three runs.
After resolving the illegal substitution that originally triggered the chaos, Randermann stepped into the circle in the bottom of the fifth with Woods leading 3-1. The Columbus, Texas, junior rocketed through the Stars order, striking out the side.
Woods doubled its scoring in the top of the sixth, as
Morgan Collins opened with a one-out single. Brooklyn Spillman singled to put two on for WWU, with a flyout to right letting Collins advance to third.
Spillman swiped second during Brook Lopez's at bat, but the steal proved superfluous as Lopez cranked a two-RBI single.
Iliana Manzano reached on an error and moved to third on a two-out RBI double by
Rylee Hagens, but Woods stranded both runners.
Randermann kept dealing for Woods in the bottom of the sixth, sandwiching popups around a strikeout to again retire Stephens in order.
After a leadoff single by
Ally Mahoney, back-to-back one-out walks to
Ella Aguiar and Spillman loaded the bases. Pinch runner
Sam Abernathy was forced out at home as
Jessica Keilholz's grounder to short was fired home. Lopez picked up the slack for Woods though, firing a single over the outstretched glove of the Stephens first baseman, clearing the bases and advancing to second.
Before the dust settled from the play at the plate, the teams were directed to their respective dugouts to begin a weather delay. As the rain continued in the absence of a tarp, the field conditions quickly deteriorated forcing the umpires to call the game.
With the win confirmed, Woods earned the no. 6 seed for the 2024 AMC Softball Tournament and will face no. 3 seed Williams Baptist to open the tournament. First pitch at the Antimi Softball Complex in St. Louis is set for noon on April 30.
