Lady Eagles Split Saturday Series With OKWU

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. - The Williams Baptist softball team (1-3) split the two games against Oklahoma Wesleyan (3-1) on Saturday, falling in game one 20-11 and defeating the Eagles in game two 14-6. Both games were run rule games.

"I was pleased with our offensive efforts today! We still have plenty to work on, but we will get better!" Head Coach Jessica Nutt said following her teams' 25 run performance on the day.

Game One

Jillian Hunter (SO/Covington, Tenn.) got the start in the circle for the Lady Eagles, and it is probably a performance that she would want to have back, as three of the first four OKWU batters hit homeruns. In total, the Eagles scored eight runs in the top of the first, and tacked on two more in the top of the second. The Lady Eagles responded in the bottom of the second with an eight run inning of their own. It started with Macy Carter (JR/Paragould, Ark.) hitting a lead-off double, then she scored off Kennedi Laymance's fielder's choice. Megan Weis (FR/Republic, Mo.) hit an RBI single, then Shelby Jones (SO/Ravenna, Texas) scored after the left fielder dropped a routine fly ball. Kennedy Johnson (FR/Forney, Texas) came up to bat with the bases loaded and she doubled deep down the right field line to score two of the runners. Alyssa Cordell (SO/Bentonville, Ark.) then hit an RBI single to left. Finally, Macy Carter hit a 2 RBI double to deep left-center field.

The Eagles responded with four runs in the third and five runs in the fourth, and one run in the fifth.

The Lady Eagles would tack on one run in the fourth after Johnson homered over the center field wall, and then they plated two more in the fifth after Kaydra Cole (JR/Paragould, Ark.) hit a 2 RBI single.

The Lady Eagles totaled 14 hits in the game. Shelby Jones and Cole both went 2-3 in the game and Weis, Johnson, and Cordell went 2-4. Johnson had 3 RBIs and Cole and Carter both had two.

Hunter lasted 0.0 innings, giving up four runs off three hits and walking one. Tess Temple (SR/Heber Springs, Ark.) lasted 2.0 innings, giving up six runs off six hits and striking out two. Angel Gillette (SO/Spring, Texas) went 1.2 innings giving up nine runs off nine hits, walked three, and struck out one. Cassidi Doyle (JR/Josephine, Texas) went 1.1 innings, giving up one run off one hit, while walking one and striking out one.

Game Two

The second game was much kinder to the Lady Eagles. While the Eagles scored four runs in the top of the first and things didn't start well for the Lady Eagles, they were able to respond with two runs in the first after Cole hit a two run bomb over the center field wall. Then in the second inning, the Lady Eagles plated four off a Laila Byas (FR/Cleveland, Miss.) RBI groundout and another Cole yard ball, this time for three runs. In the third inning, Madison Knight (FR/Albany, La.) came around to score off a Jones RBI single.

The Eagles got two back in the top of the fifth, but the Lady Eagles responded with four runs of their own. Jones got it started with an RBI single, then Cole hit an RBI fielder's choice, and Cordell hit a two RBI single. Finally, the Lady Eagles plated three in the sixth to give them the run rule victory. Weis hit an RBI single, then Byas scored off an error by the right fielder, and finally Johnson hit an RBI single to center to end the game.

Jones was 4-4 in the game, while Cole was 3-4 with six RBI.

Doyle pitched 5.0 innings, giving up six runs off eight hits, while striking out five and walking two. Gillette pitched 1.0 innings and struck out one.

Up Next

The Lady Eagles are next in action on Saturday, Feb. 13 as they travel to Texas A&M-Texarkana for two games. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 1 p.m.