MOODY, Ala. – The W softball team traveled to Moody,Ala. for a doubleheader on Wednesday versus NAIA opponent Talladega College at Moody City Park. Due to heavy rain during the week, the Talladega softball field was underwater, so the two teams moved the competition to a neutral location.
After a week off and splitting their final home doubleheader against Stillman College, the Owls bounced back with a sweep of the doubleheader taking down the Tornadoes in the first game, 9-3, and claiming the second win, 15-1.
GAME ONE (W, 9-3)
For the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, The W (21-8) started senior left-hander Madison Scoggin on the mound against Talladega (4-24) junior Bryann Welch. Welch opened the game giving up a double by Owls infielder Bailee Watts for the first score of the game.
The Tornado got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Hannah Knapp singled to left for an RBI. Chancey Davis followed in the second inning with a double to left field for an additional run to give Talladega a 2-1 lead over the Owls.
The W refocused offensively in the third inning to tie the match and control the game at the plate.
Emily Littlejohn singled to left center with two on base for an RBI. Anna Lloyd singled to bring in two more runs and an error by the short stop brought Lloyd home and gave the Owls a 5-2 advantage.
In the bottom of the inning, Ashlyn Lewis for Talladega doubled to center field to bring in Isabella Duran for the Tornadoes final score of the game.
The W did not slow down, adding a run in the fourth inning on a fielder's choice and scoring a run in the sixth on a throwing error by Talladega's second baseman.
The Owls closed the game 9-3 in the seventh when Watts doubled to centerfield to bring in Heidi Matthews and Kandler Flora for two additional runs.
Matthews led the Owls at the plate with a 3-for-5 appearance with four runs while Watts and Lloyd led the team in RBIs with three each.
GAME TWO (W, 15-1)
The second game of the doubleheader pitted Owls freshman right-hander Donna Douglas (2-0) against the Tornadoes' Chancey Davis (2-9).
For her second victory on the mound, Douglas held down pitching duties for three innings to allow only one hit with one strikeout.
The Owls got an early lead over Talladega with Davis seeing all nine of The W batters in the top of the first.
On a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Martin, Matthews scored the Owls first run of the competition. Littlejohn followed Martin with a double to right center for an RBI and Lloyd singled to the pitcher to bring Littlejohn home. Carolyn "Kendall" Wilkinson stepped up to the plate for a single to right field allowing Lloyd to score for a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
In the second inning, Megan James took a base on balls with the bases loaded for an RBI then Lloyd connected for another hit to bring Martin home, 6-0.
Martin, back at the plate in the third, singled to the shortstop for an RBI and James singled to left center to bring in Matthews for the Owls eighth run of the game.
Another bases loaded walk and a wild pitch brought in two runs and a double to left center by Briana Duquette rose the Owls lead to 12-0.
The Owls went scoreless in the fourth, but Talladega scored its only run of the game on a double by Vanessa Oakley.
In the fifth and final inning, Matthews singled to bring Jana Kay Newell home, Meredith Woolbright scored on a ground out, and Madison Fields scored on a fielder's choice for a final score of 15-1.
Matthews and Lloyd were perfect at the plate with 3-for-3 appearances. Matthews tallied one RBIs while scoring two runs and Lloyd led the Owls in RBIs with three and scored two runs.
UP NEXT
If weather permits, the Owls will be back in action on April 13 when they travel to Marion, Ala. to take on Judson College. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
