Lady Eagles Split With Bethel

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (3/23/24) - The Williams Baptist softball team earned a 12-5 victory over Bethel in game one, but the Wildcats rallied for a 7-6 win in game two in a non-conference softball matchup at the WBU Softball Field Saturday afternoon.

Madyson Shoebottom provided the offense in game one by collecting three hits and driving in five runs, three of which came on a three-run home run in the sixth inning that pushed the Lady Eagles lead to 9-6. 

Maddi Altenthal helped Williams build a 3-0 lead with RBI hits in the second and third innings, while Kaylee Wolfe also plated a run on a double into center field.

The Wildcats responded in the top of the fourth inning with a 3-run home run, before Shoebottom broke the tie with a 2-run single.

Bethel got both runs back in the fifth inning to tie the game at 5-5, but Krista Jones helped put the Lady Eagles up for good in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly that scored Natalia Watkins.

WBU added insurance runs in the sixth on Shoebottom's home run and a double steal that allowed Victoria Corker to steal home pushed the advantage to 10-5. Watkins reached on an infield hit that scored Hannah Stallings and then later scored on a passed ball to set the final at 12-5.

Emberlin Caldwell earned the win for Williams Baptist with eight strikeouts, while Maddie Wallace earned her first save of the season by pitching the final two innings in relief. 

In game two, Williams Baptist held a 6-4 lead entering the top of the seventh inning but the Wildcats scored three runs in the inning, including a 2-run home run to take a 7-6 advantage.

In the bottom half of the inning, Shoebottom reached on a walk and after Naomi Boyer entered the game to pinch run and advanced to second on a wild pitch, she was left stranded as WBU failed to push across the tying run.

WBU took the lead in the first inning when Wolfe scored on a passed ball and Rylee Boshell doubled in a pair of runs for an early 3-0 lead. Kennedy Johnson made a 5-0 lead with a 2-run home run in the third inning and the Lady Eagles looked to be in control.

Bethel worked its way back into the game with three runs in the fourth inning and another in the fifth to get within 5-4, but Williams scratched across an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning when Corker scored on a throwing error by the Bethel left fielder to make it a 2-run game.

The Williams Baptist junior varsity softball team will host Central Baptist College on Monday, March 25 for a doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

The varsity squad returns to action Tuesday, March 26 for a doubleheader against Freed-Hardeman. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. from the WBU Softball Field.