Lady Eagles Sweep CRC in Non-Conference Doubleheader

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/15/24) - The Williams Baptist women's softball team earned a doubleheader sweep over Crowley's Ridge College Thursday afternoon at the WBU Softball Field. The Lady Eagles downed the Pioneers 8-0 in six innings in game one and followed up with a 9-1 victory in five innings to improve 5-1 on the year. 

Madyson Shoebottom led the way for the Lady Eagles in game one with two home runs and three RBIs, while Natalia Watkins added a hit and two RBIs. 

WBU wasted little time in gaining an early edge when Shoebottom blasted a solo shot over the fence in center field for the early 1-0 lead. 

Following a Kennedy Johnson RBI double in the third inning, Williams used a five-run, fourth inning to put the game out of reach. 

Maddi Altenthal started off the scoring with an RBI fielder's choice and Natalia Watkins followed with a single to center that scored Altenthal and Laila Byas to push the lead 5-0. Shoebottom followed with her second blast of the afternoon, a deep shot to left center field, to push the advantage to 7-0.

Sara Pruitt sealed the victory in the sixth inning when she drove in Megan Petty on a groundout to invoke the ahead by eight or more run rule after four innings.

Inside the circle, Emberlin Caldwell (3-0) continued her strong start to the season by yielding just no runs on four hits with four strikeouts.

Williams continued to stay hot at the plate in game two, with Johnson and Petty providing the spark that propelled the home side to victory.

Johnson was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, while Petty had a hit and two RBIs in the 9-1 victory in five innings.

CRC took a 1-0 lead after scoring a run in the top of the third inning, but Shoebottom tied the game in the bottom half of the inning with her fourth RBI of the afternoon on an RBI groundout.

Johnson followed with an RBI single later in the inning to go up 2-1 and the Lady Eagles never looked back.

Wolfe started things with an RBI single to center, and Petty followed with a sacrifice bunt to score Madison Knight from third to push the lead to 4-1. 

Bailey Crump produced an RBI double, and Alenthal scored on a passed ball to go up 6-1. Johnson capped off the inning with a slow ground ball to first base that she beat out, allowing Shoebottom and Watkins to score to push the lead to 8-1.

Petty provided the final blow in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI groundout back to the pitcher that plated Wolfe to give the Lady Eagles the 9-1 win.

Maddie Wallace turned in a solid pitching performance, giving up just one run over five innings and registering three strikeouts.