WBU Sweeps Hannibal-LaGrange in Softball Doubleheader

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (4/6/24) - The Williams Baptist softball team swept Hannibal-LaGrange with a pair of run-rule victories Saturday afternoon at the WBU Softball Field. The Lady Eagles took game one 9-0 and followed with an 11-1 victory in game two. 

With the wins, Williams improved its record to 24-12 on the season and 7-1 in the American Midwest Conference and is among the top three teams in the league standings. 

Madyson Shoebottom provided the offense for Williams in game one with a 2-for-3 day at the plate with three RBIs and one run scored. She started things off in the first inning with a double to the outfield and drove in another run in the third. She drove in another in the fourth on a groundout.

The Lady Eagles broke the game open with three runs in the second inning and four more in the third to take an 8-0 lead.

Leading 1-0 in the second, Kennedy Johnson slid around a tag at home plate on a passed ball and Mallorie Drewry followed with an RBI single. Laila Byas capped the inning with a sacrifice bunt that plated Alenthal to go up 4-0.

After Shoebottom's RBI single in the fourth, Rylee Boshell reached on a fielder's choice and Shoebottom scored from third. Altenthal also reached on a fielder's choice and Johnson scored, while Drewery added a single to left that allowed a run to score on an error by the left fielder that gave Williams a 9-0 advantage.

In the circle, Morgan Garner tossed a complete-game shutout and scattered four hits across five innings and had three strikeouts. 

In game two Shoebottom continued to stay hot at the plate and added three more RBIs, while Kennedy Johnson drove in two with a home run to center field as the Lady Eagles cruised to an 11-1 win.

WBU got three runs in the first inning when Kaylee Wolfe came around to score on an error by the shortstop for the run of the game. Shoebottom followed with an RBI groundout Drewery drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning.

In the second inning, Shoebottom drove in a pair on a double, while Johnson followed with her mammoth home run to deep center to put the home side ahead 7-0.

Williams added two more runs in the third on an RBI single by Wolfe and an RBI groundout from Natalia Watkins. Drewry drove in and scored a run in the fourth to push the lead to 11-1 for the Lady Eagles.

Emberlin Caldwell threw all five innings for Williams Baptist and gave up one run on three hits while striking out six.

WBU returns to action Tuesday, April 9 for a non-conference matchup with Crowley's Ridge Academy. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.