FULTON, Mo. - Taking on the reigning American Midwest Conference regular season champion, William Woods University (11-12, 2-2 AMC) gave its all and earned the best result of any unranked opponent that No. 16 Missouri Baptist University (22-4, 4-0) has faced on the year. The Owls dropped Game 1 5-2 and Game 2 1-0 to the Spartans Saturday at Backer Sports Complex.
In the opener, WWU leadoff hitter
Lexi Lewis slapped the softball and ran around the bases exceptionally well, notching a game-high three hits, swiping a game-high two bags and scoring all of the Owls' two runs.
Proving just how immense Lewis' performance was, William Woods had two runs on five hits, committed one error and stole three bases. Missouri Baptist plated five runs on eight hits, made one error and swiped three bags.
The Spartans got to the Owls early, recording two runs in the first and third innings. In the top of the first with two outs, MBU hit an RBI single to right field and an RBI triple to right. Then, the Spartans increased their lead to 4-0 on a two-out two-RBI two-bagger in the third - they took third base on WWU's lone error, but the Owls didn't let them capitalize on the opportunity.
The Owls narrowed their deficit to three runs in the bottom of the third when
Brooklynn Spillman drilled an RBI single to center field with two outs, driving in speed demon Lewis from second. That play was made to be outstanding as WWU grounded out and struck out to begin the frame, but Lewis had a bunt single, stole second and
Kaitlyn Plassmeyer reached on a walk before Spillman's one-run base hit.
Lewis ensured the Owls didn't go down without a fight, hitting a single to third base to open the fifth inning, then stole second and advanced to third on a 1-3 groundout - the second out of the inning - before hustling home on a passed ball to make it a two-run ballgame (4-2) with two more innings to play.
After William Woods failed to get something going on a leadoff walk in the bottom of the sixth, Missouri Baptist added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly to center field in the top of the seventh.
Down to their final three outs and trailing 5-2, the Owls started the bottom of the seventh with a base hit by Lewis, but she was thrown at second base by the right fielder. Woods put the ball in play - in the air - the next two at-bats, but the Spartans caught the softball both times as WWU dropped Game 1.
Owls starter
Taylor Baumhoer (6-5) went all seven innings and was tagged with the loss. The two-time state champion allowed five runs, walked two and struck out one.
In Game 2, WWU senior leader
Sarah Randermann (4-7) threw her second gem in as many days, giving up just one earned run and no walks while punching out six in seven innings.
Unlike Game 1, runs and extra-base hits were hard to come by in Game 2 as William Woods plated no runs on one hit and registered two errors, while Missouri Baptist had one run on seven hits (two extra-base hits - both doubles) and made one error.
Showing just how much of a pitcher's dual it was, the Owls didn't have a hit until the bottom of the sixth, and it was a leadoff bunt single by
Rylee Hagens. With that being the case, WWU was gutsy on the basepaths as Hagens attempted to advance to third on
Emmy Blevins' sacrifice bunt in the ensuing at-bat, but the Fulton native was thrown out.
In the top of the seventh, MBU notched back-to-back singles, and then Randermann sent back-to-back Spartans packing before the visitors plated the game-deciding run on an RBI single.
Needing a run to tie and two to walk it off, the Owls struck out twice and popped out to second base in the bottom of the seventh, dropping their series with the Spartans despite a valiant effort.
William Woods will take a brief break from AMC play for its final nonconference series, taking on future conference opponent Culver-Stockton College (5-19) in a doubleheader, beginning at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Himsl Field in Canton.
