LECOMPTE, La. - Finishing off an excellent season-opening weekend, William Woods University (3-1) upset (RV) University of Houston-Victoria (2-2) 5-3 before dropping its first game on the year, 3-1, to Texas A&M University-Texarkana (4-0) in the Louisiana Christian Invitational Saturday at Champions Sportsplex.

"We had another day with good pitching performances and scoring runs late in the game, so that was good to see," William Woods softball coach Tracy Gastineau said. "We also had some stellar defensive plays. We hope to continue working on all parts of our game and building to get ready for AMC play."

Taking the circle for the second time in as many days, Taylor Baumhoer (2-0) already looked ready for American Midwest Conference action, recording her second straight complete-game victory versus two Jaguars ballclubs to begin her college career. Using 106 pitches after tallying 141 in eight innings Friday, Baumhoer, in seven innings of work against a UHV team in top 25 consideration, gave up two earned runs (one unearned) on six hits and two walks while sending two batters packing.

In most sports, softball being no different, it's better to trail early than late. The Owls experienced that, allowing the Jaguars to plate one run in the second and third innings to hold a 2-0 lead. Then, with two outs in the bottom of the third, WWU answered and tied it at 2 on Sammy Lohnes' two-RBI two-bagger to the gap in right-center field.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Owls took the lead they didn't relinquish in the fifth, as Fulton native Rylee Hagens smacked a double to left-center field, which undoubtedly sent speedster Lexi Lewis home from second base and made it 3-2 WWU. Lewis had the at-bat before Hagens and hit a single up the middle before stealing second to put herself in scoring position for the game-deciding play. The Owls tacked on two more runs in the fifth: Lohnes sent Hagens home on her game-high second extra-base hit and the last of her game-high three RBI, a two-out double, and two hitters later, Addie Rhea drove in Lohnes on her single up the middle to put it at 5-2 Woods.

Houston-Victoria only scored one more run - in the sixth - posting its second home run. The Jaguars nearly had another round-tripper, Hagens had other plans, jumping the fence and robbing the Jaguars' No. 8 hitter of a leadoff home run, an incredible play that helped seal the win for WWU.

The Owls' offense tallied nine hits (three extra-base hits), two walks and two stolen bases. WWU committed one error to UHV's two.

Competing in its final game of the weekend, William Woods fell in a pitcher's dual with five hits apiece to unbeaten Texas A&M-Texarkana.

Despite getting tagged with the loss, Sarah Randermann (1-1) kept her team in the game, going the distance on 79 pitches. Striking out three, Randermann allowed three earned runs on five hits, one hit by pitch and no walks.

Three Eagles RBI singles clipped the Owls, one in the first inning with two outs and two in the seventh, the first with one out and the second with two outs, to hold a 3-0 lead going into the final frame.

Rhea picked a better time than any to have the contest's lone extra-base hit, leading off the bottom of the seventh with a double to left field. Pinch hitter Sara Foster followed that up with a single to center, and two batters later, Fatima alumna Kaitlyn Plassmeyer recorded her first college RBI, grounding into a 1-3, which brought pinch runner Jaden Swift across the plate. TAMU got the following Owl to pop out as WWU fell by two.

At the dish, the Owls drew two walks and had one HBP. Lewis notched WWU's only stolen base - the Eagles also had one stolen base -  wrapping up her outstanding debut weekend in an Owls uniform by swiping eight bags in four games.

William Woods will be back in the Midwest, playing a doubleheader against the University of Saint Mary (0-0) next Saturday at USM Softball Complex in Leavenworth, Kansas. The first pitch for Game 1 is 1 p.m., and Game 2 is 3 p.m. Read Full Article