WBU Softball Rallies for a Sweep of Stephens

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (4/12/24) - The Williams Baptist softball team took sole possession of first place in the American Midwest Conference with a 5-4 come-from-behind victory in game one and then took game two 4-3 over Stephens at the WBU Softball Field Friday afternoon.

The Lady Eagles (26-12, 9-1) trailed 4-1 going into the bottom of the seventh inning of game one but rallied for four runs in the innings to complete the dramatic comeback.

With runners on first and second and one out, Natalia Watkins stepped up to the plate and reached on an error by the Stars' second baseman that allowed Laila Byas to score and cut the deficit to 4-2.

Madyson Shoebottom followed with a single to left field to score Megan Petty to get within a run. However, following a popout WBU was down to its final out when Rylee Boshell hit a high bouncer back to the pitcher, who failed to find a handle on the ball while trying to throw to first. The miscue allowed Watkins to score from second to tie the game at 4-4.

Maddi Altenthal then stepped up to the plate and drove in the game-winning run with a double to left center field to send Williams away with a thrilling game-one victory.

Watkins, also homered in the first inning, finished the game with a hit, walk, two runs scored and an RBI, while Altenthal had two hits and an RBI.

Morgan Garner tossed a complete game for her 11th victory of the year and added five strikeouts.

In game two, the Lady Eagles and Stars traded the lead back-and-forth through the middle innings before Watkins provided the go-ahead RBI in the fifth inning to put WBU ahead 5-4.

Maddie Wallace entered the game in the sixth inning in relief of Emberlin Caldwell and worked out of a bases load, 1-out jam by getting a strikeout and a groundout to end the Stephens threat. She then worked a perfect seventh for her third save of the year. 

The Stars struck first with a run in the fourth inning, but Williams answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to take a 2-1 advantage. Kennedy Johnson drove in a run on a groundout and Shoebottom scored on a passed ball for the early lead.

A 2-run double in the top of the fifth put Stephens back in front at 3-2, but Watkins answered in the bottom of the inning when Watkins drove in Kaylee Wolfe and an error on the throw home allowed Petty to score the go-ahead run. 

Watkins continued to stay hot at the plate and went 3-for-3 in game two, while Wolfe added two hits.

Williams Baptist wraps up its homestand with a doubleheader against Columbia on Saturday, April 13. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.