FROM SPECIAL REPORTS
DUBOIS, Penn. – Mississippi University for Women’s softball team remains in the winner’s bracket after defeating Carlow University 4-1 in the first round of the USCAA Small College World Series.
The No. 3 seed Owls (23-9) sent out their ace pitcher Madison Scoggin to take on the hard-throwing Carlow (18-21) pitcher Abby Stroud. What opened as a battle between defenses saw the Celtics land two hits and strand three runners in the first two innings.
The W broke the stalemate in the bottom of the second with a two-out rally. With Emily Littlejohn making it on base with a single, Carolyn “Kendall” Wilkinson reaching on an error, and Anna Lloyd scoring a base on balls, Kandler Flora stepped to the plate with bases loaded and singled to left field to bring in Littlejohn. Heidi Matthews followed Flora with a single of her own to bring in two runners and give the Owls a 3-0 advantage.
The Celtics scored their first run of the game with a bases-loaded no out fielder’s choice to cut The W’s lead to 3-1. To close out the frame, Matthews, at second base, and Brianna Duquette, at first base, executed a perfect double play for the remaining outs.
The lead for the Owls was expanded in the bottom of the sixth. After a single, a stolen base, and a wild pitch, Anna Lloyd was in prime scoring position. She scored the Owls last run of the game on a ground out with Megan James receiving credit for the RBI.
At the plate, Matthews, the senior second baseman, went 2-for-4 for two RBIs and Lloyd led the team in scoring on a 1-for-2 appearance for two runs.
On the mound, Scoggin threw her 13th complete game of the season. The senior from Bay Springs delivered three strikeouts with two walks for one earned run and eight hits against.
The Owls will return to action at 1 p.m. CT today when they take on Penn State University-Hazelton in the second round of the tournament.
BASEBALL
Wright State-Lake 5, MUW 2: The No. 5 seed Owls baseball team opened the 2019 USCAA Small College World Series against the No. 4 Wright State University-Lake Campus on Monday afternoon at Showers Field.
After carrying the lead into the fifth inning, The W saw the Lakers bring in three runs on a single and a double to start a rally and close the game ahead of the Owls 5-2.
Returning from an injury, Owls ace pitcher Drew Williams took the mound against Wright State’s Ryan Barker. Williams pitched a scoreless four innings, while Barker saw an unearned run in the first to start the competition.
In the top of the first, Heath Ford made it to base on a throwing error and advanced to second and Damain Benefield reached first on a walk. Johndavid Birdsong started the scoring effort with a single to left field to bring Ford home giving The W a 1-0 lead.
Both teams blanked in the second, third, and fourth inning but the Lakers scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take their first lead.
Benefield, the Owls power hitter, hit a home run over the left center fence to give the Owls an additional run and bring the score to 3-2.
Wright State did not let it go unanswered, scoring two runs on three hits to close the game 5-2.
Williams, Owls starter, pitched 4-1/3 innings for seven strikeouts, five walks, three earned runs, and four hits against.
Luke Hobson entered the game in the fifth to pitch 1-2/3 innings with two strikeouts, one walk, two earned runs, and four hits against.
With a single and a double, Birdsong led The W at the plate with a 2-for-3 appearance and one RBI, while Ford and Benefield scored one run each.
The Owls will be back in action today when they fight to stay in the tournament at 10 a.m. CST. They will face Penn State-Mont Alto.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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