Owls Take Two from Eutectics

AFFTON, MO. – The Eutectic softball team hosted the William Woods University Owls (Mo.) on Sunday afternoon for an American Midwest Conference (AMC) doubleheader. The Owls (21-14, 11-3 AMC) went home with both wins, taking the first game 3-1 and following up with a 5-1 victory in Game 2.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:

WWU def. UHSP 3-1

• After a quiet first inning, the Owls took a 2-0 lead in the second frame off four hits (a triple, two doubles, and a single).
• The WWU team only managed four more hits against UHSP starting pitcher Emma Henley for the rest of the game, but one of those hits happened to be a home run by Ella Aguiar to add one run to the Owl total in the top of the fifth.
• Down 3-0, the Eutectics had their chance in the bottom of the seventh. With one out and the bases loaded, Hanna Burzynski's grounder to short forced a fielder's choice by WWU that did not result in an out, scoring Alicia Kimble. The Eutectics were poised for more, but Owl pitcher Sarah Randermann had other plans, striking out the next two batters to end the game.
• Randermann finished seven innings with seven strikeouts, one walk, four hits, and one earned run for the win. Henley took the loss with four strikeouts, two walks, eight hits, and three earned runs.
• Hallie Roper reached base on all three bats, with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a double.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:

WWU def. UHSP 5-1

• The Owls marked the board in their first at-bat, earning three runs off three hits and an error.
• The Eutectics found some momentum in the bottom of the second inning with a sac bunt and three singles to score Trysten Murphy from Hannah Duggan's single to left center, bringing the score to 3-1.
• WWU responded with two singles to start the third frame, followed by a sac fly to push one run home and increase their lead to 4-1.
• The Eutectics left two on base to close out the third inning and could not seem to catch a break, as the WWU defense showed its strength.
• Sammy Lohnes started off the seventh with a triple for the Owls and came home off a sac fly to score the final run for WWU.
• Murphy and Mackenzie Nelson finished the game at 2-for-3 from the plate with Murphy scoring the only run for UHSP.
• WWU's Taylor Baumhoer claimed the win on the mound after a complete game. She struck out seven, walked zero, and allowed seven hits and one run.
• Murphy was UHSP's starting pitcher, throwing 2.2 innings for one strikeout, two walks, seven hits and three earned runs. Eva Kameoka finished up the last 4.1 innings on the mound, recording two strikeouts, four hits, zero walks, and four earned runs.

UP NEXT:

The Eutectics, now 10-22 overall and 3-13 in the AMC, will have one day of recovery before they play host to Crowley's Ridge College (Ark.)(13-19, 4-8 AMC) on Tuesday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Affton. Both teams are vying for a spot in the AMC tournament.