Lady Eagles Split With Louisiana Christian

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/13/24) - The Williams Baptist women's softball team opened its 2024 home slate by earning a split against Louisiana Christian Tuesday afternoon at the Lady Eagle Softball Field.

Williams won the first game 3-1 behind a strong pitching effort from freshman Emberlin Caldwell, but fell in game two by a score of 7-1 for the split. 

In game one, Caldwell was dominant inside the circle as the Van Buren, Ark., native tossed a complete-game and yielded just one run on three hits, while striking out five. 

Caldwell kept the Wildcats guessing with good movements on her pitches and retired the side in order in the first four innings. Her lone mistake came in the top of the seventh inning when she surrendered a leadoff home run to LCU leadoff hitter Bella Houck that closed the advantage to 3-1, but that would be the only damage that the Wildcats could do as the Caldwell earned her second win of the season.

The Lady Eagles jumped out in front in the third inning when Madison Knight laid down a sacrifice bunt in front of the catcher with runners on second and third. The LCU catcher collected the bunt and threw to first, which allowed Laila Byas to score from third, but Maddi Altenthal showed aggressive base running and rounded third to score from second on a close play at the plate to give Williams an early 2-0 advantage.

Byas led the Lady Eagles at the plate with two hits and a run scored, while Knight had two RBIs.

WBU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Victoria Corker scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Natalia Watkins to push the lead to 3-0.

In game two, Louisiana Christian jumped out to a quick lead with two runs in the second and third innings and the Lady Eagles struggled to recover from the early deficit. 

Williams looked to have the upper hand when Paige Thomas drove in a run in the bottom of the first inning to put the home side up 1-0 after the first inning, but the Wildcats responded with five runs over the next three innings to build a 5-1 edge. 

LCU added to its lead with runs in the top of sixth and seventh innings to push the lead to 7-1. 

Altenthal led the Lady Eagles at the plate with a 3-for-4 game, while Kennedy Johnson and Byas added a pair of hits each.

The team will return to the field Thursday, Feb. 15 for a non-conference home doubleheader against Crowley's Ridge College. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.