WBU Takes Two From Owls

FULTON, Mo. (4/19/24) - The Williams Baptist softball team captured a doubleheader sweep over Williams Woods University Friday afternoon to remain in a tie atop the American Midwest Conference standings entering the final stretch of games on the league slate.

The Lady Eagles (29-13, 12-2) captured game one 3-2 and then took game two 4-2 at Backer West Stadium on the campus of WWU.

Morgan Garner tossed a complete-game gem in game one, giving up just two runs on four hits and recording three strikeouts. Emberlin Caldwell followed suit in game two by going the distance and yielded two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. 

In the afternoon's first contest, WBU scored runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to build their advantage. 

Natalia Watkins drove in the first run of the game for her squad with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1 in the third, and Kennedy Johnson followed with an RBI double in the fourth inning to put Williams in front at 2-1. 

Madison Knight added an insurance run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. The run would prove to be pivotal as the Lady Owls attempted a comeback rally in the bottom of the seventh when they scored a run and had the tying run on base, but Garner was able to close the door and secure the win for Williams. 

In game two, Watkins got things going in the third inning with a bases-loaded single to plate Johnson and tie the game at 1-1. Madyson Shoebottom followed in the next at-bat with a sacrifice fly that scored Laila Byas to put WBU up 2-1.

Watkins and Shoebottom combined to drive in two more runs in the fifth inning when Watkins doubled to left center field to plate Byas and Shoebottom followed with an RBI groundout to score Kaylee Wolfe. 

The Owls scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 4-2, but Caldwell sat the side down in order in the seventh to preserve the victory.

Williams continues its road on Saturday with a doubleheader at Cottey. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.