FULTON, Mo. – No. 8 Missouri Baptist University softball was swept in a doubleheader at William Woods University on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans end the regular season at 37-9 overall and 23-4 in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, winning the Heart Regular Season Championship, securing the No. 1 seed in the tournament, and punching their ticket to the NAIA National Tournament.
Game One Recap
Missouri Baptist could not overcome an early deficit as William Woods pulled away for a 4-1 victory.
William Woods did its damage in the second inning, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to score three times. Kaitlyn Plassmeyer delivered a two-run single in the frame, while another run came home on an error to give the Owls a 3-0 lead. They added an insurance run in the fourth on an RBI single from Lexi Lewis.
MBU was limited offensively, managing just three hits in the game.
Brooklynn Fischer and
Jacie Dees each recorded a hit, while
Kelsie Holtmeyer added another. The Spartans' lone run came in the seventh inning when
Miranda Ladson lifted a sacrifice fly to score
Grace McGinnis.
In the circle,
Kaylie Brake took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs over four innings.
Madison Sherry followed with two scoreless innings of relief, striking out four.
William Woods pitcher Taylor Baumhoer earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run on three hits while striking out six.
Missouri Baptist drew five walks but left nine runners on base in the loss.
Winning Pitcher: Taylor Baumhoer (12-2)
Losing Pitcher: Kaylie Brake (22-4)
Batting Leaders
Miranda Ladson: Sacrifice Fly, RBI
Brooklynn Fischer: 1-for-3, 2B
Game Two Recap
MBU controlled the game early, manufacturing runs in the middle innings. Fischer opened the scoring in the third with a sacrifice fly, and the Spartans added two more in the fourth. Dees drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, and
Alohilani Bursey followed with a bunt that brought home another to give MBU a 3-0 lead.
William Woods chipped away in the fifth on an RBI single from Lexi Lewis to make it 3-1, but MBU held that advantage into the final inning.
In the seventh, the Owls mounted the decisive rally. Ella Aguiar delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to one, and Addie Rhea followed with a two-run double that scored the tying and winning runs to complete the comeback.
Sherry went the distance in the circle for MBU, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out seven.
Offensively, Missouri Baptist collected six hits, with Fischer, Dees, and
Allison Leigraf each driving in a run.
Makayla Johnson added a hit and stole two bases.
William Woods combined for eight hits, with Lewis and Aguiar each recording two, as the Owls secured the walk-off win.
Winning Pitcher: Kiley Grubbs (2-8)
Losing Pitcher: Madison Sherry (1-2)
Batting Leaders
Brooklynn Fischer: 1-for-2, RBI
Jacie Dees: 1-for-3, RBI
Records:
No. 8 Missouri Baptist: 37-9, 23-4 Heart
William Woods: 22-21, 16-12 Heart
What's Next?
The Spartans will be the number-one seed in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament, beginning on Thursday, April 30, at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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