Lady Eagles Rebound Against Stars to Advance in AMC Tournament

CONWAY, Ark. (4/29/25) – The Williams Baptist University softball team lost its opening round game to No. 5 seed Central Baptist 3-1 before bouncing back with a 2-1 victory over No. 8 Stephens on the first day of the 2025 American Midwest Conference Tournament on Tuesday.

The Lady Eagles out-hit the Mustangs 9-7 in the tournament's opening round.  Madyson Busselle (2-3), Rylee Boshell (2-3), and Kaelyn Gooch (2-3) each had multi-hit games.

CBC got on the board first with a two-run homer from Abby West in the top of the second.  Williams responded with its first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Brooke Scott.

Central Baptist added to its lead in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice bunt to go up 3-1.  WBU brought the game-winning run to the plate with two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but failed to convert and took the opening round loss.

Emberlin Caldwell (13-8) took the loss for WBU after tossing 4.2 innings with three earned runs.  Alex Jeter (14-8) took the win in the circle for CBC, and Isabella Sawyers (2) earned the save.

Kaelyn Gooch (1-2, 2 RBI) led the way on offense for the Lady Eagles in game two against Stephens.

Gooch drove in two runs in the bottom of the second with a single up the middle to put Williams up 2-0.  Stephens got a run back on a single from Ivy Smart to cut the lead in half.

WBU kept the Stars quiet on offense after that to secure the 2-1 win and advance to day two of the AMC Tournament.

Morgan Garner (15-4) pitched all seven innings in the circle for WBU with only one earned run and four strikeouts to earn the win.  Katie Dennis (7-9) took the loss for Stephens.

Next, Williams will face the loser of William Woods and Columbia on Wednesday, thirty minutes after the conclusion of the 12 p.m. matchup.