FULTON, Mo.- William Woods University softball (12-11, 6-2 Heart) hosted new conference opponent Culver-Stockton College () for a midweek conference double header. The Owls took the Wildcats to the wire both games, earning both notches in the win column on walk-off extra-inning knocks.
In game one, reigning Heart of America Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week, Taylor Baumhoer, continued her excellence in circle. The sophomore tallied nine k's in the matchup while allowing only three hits in all 11 innings of work.
The Owls offense stalled to start the day, only scoring one run before extra innings on a base knock from Ella Aguiar that scored Kaitlyn Plassmeyer. Culver-Stockton responded with a lone run of their own in the top of the fourth inning. This one-run deadlock would carry for the next five innings.
In the top of the ninth, the Wildcats scratched the runs column once again on a one-out walk that came around to score. The Owls responded in the bottom half of the frame, on a leadoff miscue by the defense that was brought home off the bat of Emmy Blevins to preserve a 2-2 tie going into the tenth.
With the international tie breaking rule in effect, Culver-Stockton started the frame with a runner on second base. That runner advanced to third on a deep fly to right before scoring on an Owls miscue to give the Wildcats a one run lead heading into the bottom of the tenth. Tracy Gastineau's bunch showed no quit, matching the run with the use of the sacrifice bunt that led to a sacrifice fly to left.
Baumhoer was able to hold the Wildcats off the board in the top half of the 11th inning, giving the Owls a chance to secure the win. Transfer junior Zoey Cheek was called to pinch run for the ITB runner in Addie Rhea. At the plate, Spillman, tipped a ball in play that the C-SC defense could not contain and Cheek took advantage of this miscue as she crossed the plate for the winning run. William Woods took game one by a 4-3 scoreline, in the longest game that either team has played so far this season.
Game one was so much fun, that both teams decided to give the fans even more free softball as game two was another extra-inning affair. Culver-Stockton erupted first, putting up a three-spot in the top of the first. The Wildcats took advantage of three free passes, combining it with three hits in the frame to notch all of their runs. William Woods responded with a lone run off the bat of Aguiar that scored Lewis to cut into the Wildcat lead.
After throwing a goose egg in the top of the second, William Woods exploded for three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead. Kiley Grubbs triple to the wall scored Mariah Prince while Lewis' ball in play brought two home to give The Woods a one run lead.
Both offenses took a four-inning hiatus, as neither team was able to score throughout the middle innings. Culver was first to score, as a leadoff single was able to tie the game in the top half of the seventh. William Woods was unable to cross the plate in the bottom half, thanks to a stellar double play turned by the Wildcat defense.
Freshman arm Teagan Jones was able to retire the side in the top half of the eighth inning, setting up the Owls for another chance to walk it off on the day. Addie Rhea rattled off a one out single to spark the offense for The Woods. Spillman hit a ball deep into the hole in-between short and second to give the Owls runners at first and second with one away. Prince, the next batter to step to the plate, worked a two-two count against the Culver-Stockton arm. The Owls leftfielder leveraged a fastball deep into the gap in leftfield to walk it off for the second consecutive game. Prince and the Owls take the 5-4 win in eight innings as they improve to 12-11 on the year.
William Woods is back on Saturday afternoon when they host MidAmerica Nazarene at Backer Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
