GULF SHORES, Ala. - William Woods softball (5-7) opened up their experience at the Gulf Coast Invitational with a 1-1 record. The Owls fell short to Brenau University in game one before toppling Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) by a 8-7 scoreline in game two.
In game one the Golden Tigers jumped out to an early lead, tallying a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning on a couple bunt singles and a big base knock from the Brenau three-hole hitter. Brenau was able to tack on another run in the bottom of the second off a free pass that scored via a single to take the early 3-0 lead.
The Owls answered with a solo run in the top of the third. The leadoff hitter for the Owls in the inning, Brooklyn Spillman, knocked a base hit over the shortstop to spark the offense for The Woods. Ella Agiuar moved Spillman over a base on a single to rightfield, leaving the tying run at the plate for the Owls. With cleanup hitter Addie Rhea, who tallied three hits on the day, at the plate, the Golden Eagles looked to work around the slugger. Rhea, worked the count to level a double deep into right field to score Spillman and move Agiuar to third. The next three Owls would be retired in order before any more damage could be done in the inning.
Woods went the rest of the game with little opportunity but showed promise in the seventh. With one out, Agiuar barreled a ball to right field for a single. Myla Inman followed that performance with a base knock of her own, bringing the winning run to the plate. Brenau was able to work around the base runners, to seal a 3-1 win.
Game two saw a complete change for the Owls, who exploded for eight runs in the contest. Woods tallied two runs in the first, three in the second, and a lone run in the third for six runs in the first few innings. ABAC was able to scratch a lone run in the top of the third, before recording back-to-back three spots in the fourth and fifth innings to level the game at seven.
After a scoreless sixth, the game was poised for magic for the Owls. William Woods went with veteran arm Hailey Robinson in the sixth and seventh innings. She allowed only two runners in her two innings of work, leaving the Owls tied for the bottom of the seventh.
Leadoff hitter, and February Student-Athlete of the Month, Lexi Lewis barreled a single to create an early runner for the Owls in the frame. Spillman, the two-hole hitter, dropped down a bunt single to leave two runners on for the meat of the order. After a double steal, Agiuar reached base via a ABAC miscue to load the bases for the red-hot Rhea. The junior from St. Louis, collected her seventh hit of the day to lift The Woods to the walk-off win.
Woods returns to the diamond tomorrow morning against a familiar face in Central Baptist College (Ark.) and tomorrow afternoon against Texas A&M-Texarkana.
