CANTON, Mo. - In a tale of two games, William Woods University (12-13) splits its final nonconference series of the season, beating future conference opponent Culver-Stockton College (6-22) 7-0 in Game 1 before falling 8-0 to the Wildcats in five innings in Game 2 Tuesday at Himsl Field.
"Today, we did not play up to the standards that we have set for our team…in energy, focus or competitiveness," William Woods softball coach
Tracy Gastineau said. "So that was disappointing. Hopefully we find a way to respond this weekend."
In the series opener, the Owls scored seven runs on seven hits and had a flawless game in the field, while Culver-Stockton had no runs on one hit and made one error.
William Woods put the first run on the scoreboard with two outs in the top of the first when
Mariah Prince doubled to left field and plated
Kaitlyn Plassmeyer.
After two scoreless innings, the Owls put up a three-spot in the fourth to increase their lead to 4-0.
Lexi Lewis scored WWU's first run of the fourth, advancing home on a wild pitch. Plassmeyer tallied her second run for the game and the Owls' second of the inning, hustling home as Prince reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Prince recorded Woods' final run of the frame with two outs, scoring on
Jessica Keilholz's bases-loaded walk.
In the fifth, William Woods extended its advantage to 5-0 on
Brooklynn Spillman's two-out RBI single, which drove in Lewis from second base.
The Owls completed the contest's scoring with their two-run sixth inning.
Emmy Blevins produced the first run, sending
Sammy Lohnes across home plate on her base hit to left field.
Corynne Miller notched WWU's final run, scoring on Lewis' one-out 6-4 fielder's choice with the pads full.
Prince guided William Woods' offense, with a double, two RBI and one run; Lohnes also had an extra-base hit for the Owls, posting a two-bagger.
On the basepaths, Lewis swiped a game-high three bags and tied Plassmeyer for a game-high two runs. Helping her to those impressive baserunning numbers, Lewis had strong plate discipline, receiving a game-high three walks. Lewis had nearly half of WWU's seven stolen bases; Plassmeyer, Spillman, Miller and Blevins each registered a stolen base.
Owls starter
Sarah Randermann (5-7) maintained her superior form, pitching a one-hit complete-game shutout victory. In seven innings, she struck out six, walked five and hit one batter.
Looking like a completely different, uncharacteristic team in Game 2, WWU had no runs on one hit and made one error to C-SC's eight runs on seven hits and no errors.
The Wildcats plated one run in the second inning, two in the third, one in the fourth and four in the fifth to secure the short-game result.
Despite having just one hit - a Miller two-out single in the top of the third - William Woods posted five stolen bases, including a game-high two by Miller.
Utilizing their pitching depth, the Owls started
Jessica Keilholz in the circle and used
Hailey Robinson in relief. Keilholz (1-1) took the loss, giving up seven earned runs (one unearned) on seven walks and six hits in 4â…” innings.
William Woods (2-2 American Midwest Conference) jumps back into AMC play, hosting one of the teams it's tied for fourth with, Williams Baptist University (17-8, 2-2 AMC) in its Think Pink series, with the doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. Friday at Backer Sports Complex in Fulton. On top of looking to move up the AMC standings, the Owls seek to avenge their season-ending defeat to the Eagles in the AMC Tournament last season.
