CONWAY, Ark. - No. 2 seed William Woods University (30-17) went on its furthest American Midwest Conference Tournament run since its last championship series appearance in 2022, as the Owls' 2025 path finished in the final four Thursday at City of Colleges Park. The Owls dropped Game 11 10-1 in six innings to No. 16/No. 1 seed Missouri Baptist University (43-6) before losing their elimination, Game 13 matchup against host, No. 5 seed Central Baptist College (31-24), 3-0.

"Today just wasn't our day," William Woods softball coach Tracy Gastineau said. "We had moments of hitting the ball hard, but right at someone. These games today don't take away from the season these women put together or how proud I am of them."

Against the Spartans, Addie Rhea scored WWU's lone run in the bottom of the second when she roped a home run, which accounted for half of the Owls' hits and was their lone extra-base hit; MBU had 13 hits (four extra-base hits). The Woods made no errors, while Missouri Baptist had one error.

Unfortunately for the Owls, the Spartans scored at least two runs in the first three innings. MBU plated two runs on a leadoff walk and a home run in the first inning, two runs on four hits (three singles and a leadoff double) and two stolen bases in the second and four runs on a leadoff HBP and three singles in the third.

Jessica Keilholz, who replaced William Woods starting pitcher Taylor Baumhoer in the third inning, held Missouri Baptist off the scoreboard between the fourth and fifth innings. However, the Spartans set up their run-rule victory by tallying two runs on two doubles,  the first to begin the inning, a wild pitch and a walk in the top of the sixth.

Putting the ball in play all three at-bats, two of them reaching the outfield, William Woods went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth, sending it to Game 13, an elimination game for the second and final spot in the championship series.

After tossing three shutout innings in relief and earning the win in a 5-3 extra-inning victory against No. 3 seed Columbia College Wednesday, Baumhoer (12-7) struck out three Spartans in two innings but gave up four earned runs and was tagged with the loss.

Following that result, the Owls received a break as No. 4 seed Williams Baptist University (34-14) faced off against the home, fifth-seeded Mustangs in Game 12, an elimination game. CBC won 4-0 over the Eagles, turning around and facing William Woods in another do-or-die contest.

Four-time All-AMC honoree Sarah Randermann (13-9), in her final start of her career, did her part to give the Owls a chance to win, giving up just three earned runs and striking out four while going all six innings in the loss.

Neither team committed an error, but a key factor in the outcome was William Woods having just two hits to Central Baptist's eight. 

Sammy Lohnes had the Owls' lone extra-base hit, their final of the season, smacking her team-leading 16th multi-base knock, a one-out double to center field in the top of the fifth. She advanced to third on Rhea's sacrifice fly to right field, but the Mustangs got out of the inning unscathed by forcing a flyout to center for the third out.

Lexi Lewis posted William Woods's final hit of the 2025 campaign, her team-high 49th, 10 more than any other Owl, when she slapped a one-out single in the top of the sixth. She made it into scoring position on Keilholz's two-out walk, but CBC forced a groundout to second base to end the frame.  

Lohnes reached on a one-out walk in The Woods's final inning at the plate, but that was the only Owl to get on. Right after the free pass, the Mustangs turned a 6-4-3 double play to take the remaining spot in the championship series.

Central Baptist plated one run on a leadoff walk and a single in the first inning, one run on two hits (frame-opening home run and a base hit) in the fourth and one run on two straight two-out hits (long ball and a one-bagger) in the fifth. Those two dingers were the only extra-base hits the Mustangs had all game.

William Woods finished the 2025 season 30-17 overall and 18-4 in the AMC, winning nine more games overall and nine more in the AMC and losing 10 fewer contests overall and five fewer in the AMC than a year ago.

COVID-19 shortened 2020 aside, the Owls had their winningest season with their fewest losses since 2014 when they held a 40-17 record overall and 20-2 in the AMC. That season, 11 years ago, was the last and final time WWU won the AMC regular season and tournament titles, and it was also the most recent year the Owls finished the campaign in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25, slotted 20th.

Thursday marked the conclusion of the playing careers for eight William Woods Owls: Randermann, Keilholz, Kelsey Rose, Morgan Collins, Callie Zarcone, Rylee Hagens and Jaden Swift.

"As a coach, each end of the season makes you re-live your worst athletic day as you watch your seniors see the end of their athletic careers," Gastineau said. "Today was tough to see that end for them."

William Woods ended the year ranked in the top 25 of the NAIA in five team statistics: Fifth in walks (176 - three away from the single-season program record and third-most all-time), 14th in sacrifice flies (21), 18th in shutouts (11), 19th in batting average against (.232) and 24th in ERA (2.24).

The Owls seek to build off one of their best campaigns in recent memory when they make a complete transition to the Heart of America Athletic Conference next school year, 2025-26. Read Full Article