Lady Eagles Knock-Off Top Seeded Spartans in AMC Tournament

COLUMBIA, Ark. (5/1/24) - Madison Knight had two RBIs, while Natalia Watkins and Madyson Shoebottom had three hits each as the Williams Baptist Lady Eagles knocked off the No. 1 seeded Missouri Baptist Spartans in the American Midwest Conference Softball Tournament Wednesday afternoon on the campus of Columbia College. 

Williams advances to take on William Woods in the semifinals of the elimination on Thursday, May 2 at Noon. The winner will advance to take on the loser of the Cottey and Central Baptist College matchup at 2 p.m. for the opportunity to then move to Friday's championship game. 

Williams jumped out to a lead in the third inning when Shoebottom doubled to left center field and a throwing error allowed Watkins to score from third. Knight followed with a single up the middle and Shoebottom scored from third, after she advanced to third on the error, and the Lady Eagles held an early 2-0 advantage.

WBU added a run in the fifth inning when Knight drove in a run on a sac fly.

The two runs would be all Emberlin Caldwell would need as she kept the Spartans guessing at the plate all afternoon. The AMC Freshman of the Year had an efficient afternoon, needing just 77 pitches to get through seven innings. She gave up just one run on five hits and did not walk a batter while striking out two. 

The Spartans threatened in the top of the third inning with runners on second and third with two out, but Caldwell got a line out to end the inning. Missouri Baptist scored a run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly and had the tying run at the plate, but a pop-up to Kaylee Wolfee at third base ended the threat and sent Williams onto Thursday's round of games.

With the win, WBU improved its record to 35-16 overall on the year.