COLUMBUS, Miss. – The Owls softball team faced tough competition during its "Strikeout Cancer" doubleheader versus Hendrix College. The W played well defensively in front of its home crowd to take both games 7-2 and 2-1.

GAME ONE (W, 7-2)

The first game of the day was a battle at-bat with both teams easily connecting with the ball.

The Owls edged out the Warriors at the plate with 10 hits while holding Hendrix to 8. The two opponents tied in errors with two miscues each.

The Owls were the first team to score, grabbing two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Heidi Matthews collected an RBI and reached base on a throwing error by the shortstop which allowed Kristen Martin to score. Matthews then came home on a fielder's choice ground out with Bailee Watts tallying the RBI.

In the top of the second, Hendrix answered with a run of their own to put the score at 2-1.

In the bottom, the Owls added a third run with Matthews scoring again for The W on a throwing error by the catcher.

The Owls caught fire offensively in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 6-1. Madison Fields scored on a single by Anna Lloyd, Lloyd scored on a pass ball, and Kandler Flora scored on a sacrifice bunt to third base by Kristen Martin.

In the fifth, Fields scored the Owls final run on a single by Emily Littlejohn.

Not totally put out, the Warriors continued to fight in the seventh inning. Hendrix scored its second and final run of the game on a fielder's choice to drop the game 7-2.

Senior outfielder Kristen Martin led the Owls at the plate with a 2-for-3 appearance. The Hattiesburg, Miss. native also grabbed one run and one RBI in the effort.

Heidi Matthew was also a great contributor to the offense with a 2-for-4 appearance with two runs and one RBI with Madison Fields who also lent two runs and one RBI.

On the mound, senior Madison Scoggin improved to a 6-1 record with 7.0 innings pitched for four strikeouts.

GAME TWO (W, 2-1)

In game two, the Owls had to depend on their defense to stay ahead of the Warriors.

Hendrix outhit The W 8-2 but was unable to convert the effort into runs.

The Owls got another early lead against the Warriors with a run scored in the first inning. Carolyn "Kendall" Wilkinson sent a sacrifice fly to centerfield to send Kristen Martin home.

In the second, Hendrix tied it up with a run on an Owls error but The W sealed its victory in the sixth when Anna Lloyd scored on a fielder's choice with Martin being credited with the RBI.

Entering the game in the fourth inning, Amelia Stalter took the victory on the mound. The freshman right-hander pitched 3.1 innings for two strikeouts and four hits against.

Donna Douglas entered the game in the seventh inning to deal out three strikeouts for the save.

UP NEXT

The Owls will travel to Montgomery, Miss. to take on the Hawks of Huntingdon College. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.