ST. LOUIS- In the second to last AMC match up of the regular season, Missouri Baptist Softball took on William Woods University. The Spartans were able to put up another 2 wins against the Owls.

GAME ONE

The first inning of the game ended with both teams leaving a batter on base. The Spartans were able to make up for that in the bottom of the second. Ellie Wessel was up to bat and hit a single to the short stop. While the opposing short stop was able to catch Allison Leigraf before she made it to second base, Wessel was able to bring in Kolby Brake and beat the throw to first.
After a ground out to Leigraf at third and two strikeouts by Shelby Sievers the Spartans were back up to add another run to the board. In the bottom of the third, Madalyn Bone was able to make it to first on a bad throw by the short stop. Bone moved around the bases during the next couple at bats, finding herself at third. On a double through the right side by Brake, the grad student made it home to score the second run of the game.

The Spartan defense went to work in the top of the fourth, with all three outs thrown out at first. The hits were there in the bottom of the inning but, unable to capitalize on the opportunity, three runners were left on base. In the fifth inning, neither team was able to break through and earn a run.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Spartans were able to add another run. Abagail Cafolla had a pop up to the right fielder who was unable to make the catch. As the ball landed Ab. Cafolla was able to round it to second base. With the ball bouncing all the way to the fence Ab. Cafolla kept going. As she was rounding third base the fielder made the throw to home, aiming for the tag by the catcher. Ab. Cafolla beat the throw and was able to slide on home to be credited with the in the park homerun.

In the top of the seventh the defense was able to shut down the batters to earn the win. Shelby Sievers was able to earn the shut out with six strikeouts on the day.
 
GAME TWO

The second game of the day the bats were on fire for the Spartans. While there were no bombs launched over the fence the team still kept at it to earn ten hits on the game. Five of those came in the very first inning after the Owls earned their only hit of the day. It was kind of an odd start to the first at bat for the Spartans. On what we initially thought was going to be a line out for Ab. Cafolla turned into a second chance as the pitcher threw an illegal pitch on the hit. With the new life, Ab. Cafolla came back up to bat and made it on base with a walk. Bone then hit a single right over the first baseman's head. The right fielder actually tripped while fielding the ball, allowing Bone to make it to second base on the throw and Ab. Cafolla to third.

Up next, the pitcher didn't want any part of Sievers as she threw four straight balls way out of the batter's box. With the bases loaded, Molly McPheeters stepped up and hit a single down the left field line to bring in Ab. Cafolla. With the bases loaded once again, Brake hit a single of her own, this time to left center. Both McPheeters and Sievers made it home to bring the score 4-0. Leigraf was able to make it on base with a single, and with Ellie Wessel on with a walk, the bases were loaded for the third time of the inning. Making it around the line up, Ab. Cafolla was back up to bat. This time the sophomore hit a single to center field to bring in both Leigraf and Brake.

The next three at bats for WWU were three up three down while the Spartans were able to get some hits in but no runs. Things picked back up for MBU in the bottom of the third with two runs scored. With Hager on second base, Wessel hit a single through the left side. Hager kicked it into high gear and was able to make it around to score on the throw. Wessel was able to make it home herself after a single hit up the middle by Bone.

After another three batters out in a row for the Owls, the Spartans were back up to bat in the bottom of the fourth. Both Natalie Archer and Kolby Brake made it on base with a hit while Meghan Hager found herself safe at first on a ground ball misfielded by the pitcher. The bases were loaded once again for the Spartans. Depending on how you view the situation, the Spartans were either lucky or unlucky as Wessel was hit by a pitch causing Sheldon Underwood, who pinch ran for Archer, to earn a run.

To close out the game, the Spartans sat down the next three batters earning Alexandria Cafolla a shut out on the day. Cafolla was just short of a no hitter with the Owls earning one run on the game but was able to earn five strikeouts.

The Spartans will be on the road tomorrow in their last conference double header against Cottey College. They will be facing off against the Comets for the conference regular season title starting at 1 PM.