Johnson’s Big Day Powers Lady Eagles to Sweep

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/24/24) - Powered by a two home run day from Kennedy Johnson, the Williams Baptist softball team earned a doubleheader sweep over St. Mary of the Woods College with a 7-6 victory in game one and a 6-4 win in game two.

Johnson had a monster day for the Lady Eagles (8-2) and hit home runs in both contests to help propel them to the wins. The senior from Forney, Texas went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs across both games. 

Game one was a tight contest throughout with both sides leaning on their offenses early to gain the upperhand. 

The Pomeroys scored three runs in the top of the first inning to take the early advantage but the Lady Eagles answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the frame. Madyson Shoebottom and Kaylee Wolfe each had RBI singles in the inning.

Shoebottom also had a big day for Williams as she tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left. Johnson followed in the next at-bat with a solo shot of her own, which proved to be the go ahead run. 

Shoebottom was 3-for-4 in game one with four RBIs and two runs scored. 

SMWC scored a run in the top of the second, but WBU answered in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI triple off the bat of Laila Byas to get within 4-3. Later in the frame Shoebottom delivered a 2-run double to give Williams its first lead of the afternoon at 5-4.

The Pomeroys answered with two more runs in the top of the third inning to take the lead back at 6-5 to setup the back-to-back home runs from Shoebottom and Johnson that put the Eagles out in front for good.

Emberlin Caldwell earned her fourth victory of the year inside the circle for Williams, while Maddie Wallace earned the save with one inning of work in relief. 

In game two, Johnson sent a 3-run home run over the wall in left center field that provided the offensive spark WBU needed to complete the sweep.

The Lady Eagles trailed 1-0 entering the third inning, but Johnson rallied the offense with her home run. Natalia Watkins and Megan Petty followed with RBI hits in the fourth inning and Wolfe drove in a run in the fifth with an RBI double to put Williams ahead 5-1.

SMWC got a run back in the sixth and scored two more in the top of the seventh with some added dramatics to end the game.

With the tying run at the plate, Jasmine Kinzer singled to right center field that allowed a run to score, but Petty threw out Kinzer at second from center field after Kinzer tried to stretch her single into a double to end the game.

Morgan Garner picked up her third victory of the season with a strong pitching performance. The sophomore from Rector, Ark., had four strikeouts and gave up just two runs, one earned, on six hits before giving way to Wallace in the seventh.

Next up for Williams will be a doubleheader home matchup with Lane College on Tuesday, Feb. 27. First pitch from the Lady Eagle Softball field is set for 1 p.m.