Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MARSHALL, Mo. - Picking up right where it left off, just on a different diamond, William Woods University (8-5) swept its second doubleheader on the weekend - second short-game and shutout wins, too - taking two against future conference opponent Missouri Valley College (3-7) Sunday at Lyon Bowl. The Owls beat the Vikings 3-0 in Game 1 and 9-1 in Game 2.

"Collectively, on the day, we played our best ball to date," William Woods softball coach Tracy Gastineau said. "Great pitching performances, great defense and communication on the field and timely hitting. It was a great way to play right before we leave for our spring trip later this week."

In Game 1, WWU scored three runs on six hits and made no errors, while MVC had no runs on seven hits and committed one error.

After tossing a five-inning no-hitter Friday, Taylor Baumhoer (5-2) pitched her second straight complete-game shutout victory, seven innings this time. Totaling 102 pitches (69 strikes), Baumhoer struck out five and allowed no walks.

Through five innings, it was knotted at 0. Then, the Owls' and Vikings' bats became lively in the sixth. 

In the top of the sixth, Sammy Lohnes reached on a leadoff walk, and she proved the notion that a free pass to begin a frame generally means a run will be scored. Two runs scored in this instance as Jessica Keilholz recorded WWU's second long ball of the season, a two-run bomb in the second at-bat of the sixth, sending the Owls ahead 2-0.

Missouri Valley tried to respond in the bottom of the sixth, hitting a leadoff double to left field. Following that, Baumhoer had her fielders to thank as Lexi Lewis caught a fly ball in right field for the first out, shortstop Brooklynn Spillman and first baseman Addie Rhea executed a 6-3 for the second out and Morgan Collins snagged the softball in left field for the final out.

Spillman gave The Woods an excellent opportunity for an insurance run in the seventh, beginning the inning by singling and reaching third on a two-base error by the Viking right fielder. Two batters later, the Owls got their insurance run with pinch hitter Taylor Lorenz slapping a single to center, plating Spillman.

Holding a 3-0 lead heading into the game's final frame, the Owls sent MVC down 1-2-3, thanks to their defense: Third baseman Keilholz caught a pop-up for the first out, Spillman tossed it to Rhea to complete a 6-3 for the second out and Rhea received a throw from Lohnes to tally a 4-3, sealing a Game 1 victory for Wiliam Woods.

The Owls nearly doubled their hit tally in Game 2 from Game 1, plating nine runs on 10 hits and playing another flawless game on the field. The Vikings scored one run on one hit and didn't have an error.

Sarah Randermann (3-2) had another great outing in the circle this weekend, going all five innings and earning the win to give her a winning record on the season. She gave up just one earned run, punched out four and handed one free pass.

Early deficits are better than late deficits, and William Woods exemplified that after it went down 1-0 on Missouri Valley's home run to open the bottom of the second.

Responding immediately, the Owls registered a four spot in the top of the third. Lewis, who reached on a base hit with one out, stole second and advanced to third during Emmy Blevins' at-bat. Blevins sent Lewis around all four bases, bringing her home on her single to the shortstop. WWU maintained its one-out rally, taking a 2-1 advantage on Ella Aguiar's RBI one-bagger to left field and adding two more runs to its lead when Lohnes scored on a passed ball and Rhea drove in Keilholz on her sacrifice fly to center.

William Woods carried its momentum of having a 4-1 cushion into the bottom of the third as Randermann sent the Vikings down 1-2-3, including on a strikeout looking to begin the frame.

The Owls solidified their lead with a second straight four-run inning to make it 8-1. WWU started the fourth with three consecutive singles, the last from Lewis' bat, sending Spillman home. During the next at-bat, Kaitlyn Plassmeyer advanced home on a passed ball, and Lewis scored on Lohnes' ground out to third base. Keilholz made it back-to-back RBI 5-3s for the Owls, bringing in Blevins for the final run of the fourth. 

With one out and runners on first and second, Lewis set up The Woods' run-rule victory with her RBI single to right field that scored Spillman. Randermann locked down the Owls' second short-game win on the weekend with her third straight 1-2-3 inning - and fourth in the contest.

Next weekend, William Woods heads down to Gulf Shores, Alabama, to play six games in the 30-team 2025 Gulf Coast Invitational (GCI). The Owls open the weekend, facing Brenau University (10-0) at 9 a.m. and NCCAA Nelson University (3-12) at 11:15 a.m. Friday at Gulf Shores Sportsplex.