FULTON, Mo.- William Woods University Softball (3-5) traveled down Westminster Ave. to take on a pair of NCAA DIII schools in The University of Wisconsin-Platteville and Westminster College. Woods toppled both programs, taking game one 7-4 and game two in a 2-1 pitcher's duel.
The Owls, in their first meeting with the Pioneers, jumped out to an early lead scoring two runs in the first and lone tally in the second to go up three-nil. Woods added another run in the fourth inning when her run in the fourth inning when junior Addie Rhea barreled a deep drive over the head of the centerfielder for a double that scored Brooklyn Spillman. The senior shortstop from Columbia, Spillman, knocked in a pair of runs in the top of the fifth to grow the Owls lead to six.
UW-Platteville finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot to left-center field. Leading off the top of the sixth, Rhea leveled a fastball over the leftfield fence to grow the lead to 7-1 in favor of The Woods. The Pioneers were able to scratch three runs across in the bottom of the seventh but fell short 7-4.
After a thirty-minute hiatus, Woods matched up with cross-town foe Westminster College. Dating back to March 14th, 2002, Woods has handled the Blue Jays to the tune of a 21-1 overall record with the lone loss for the Owls coming in 2017. This game would be no different with Woods taking a 2-1 victory, propelled by a stellar outing from Taylor Baumhoer. The sophomore right-hander from Bonnots Mill, Mo., tallied nine strikeouts over her seven innings of work; allowing only one run on four hits.
Woods scored the first run of the contest in the top of the first when Rhea pounced on another fastball and doubled to right-center field, scoring Ella Agiuar. Woods grew their lead in the top of the third on a bunt hit from Spillman that scored leadoff hitter Lexi Lewis. The Blue Jays countered with a lone run in the bottom half of the frame, going scoreless the rest of the way as the Owls win and move to 3-5 on the season.
William Woods returns next weekend in Shawnee, Kansas, when they take on a pair of KCAC schools in Oklahoma Wesleyan and Friends University. First pitch at 12:20 p.m.
