ST. LOUIS -- After managing just four hits through Game 1, William Woods (11-17, 2-2 American Midwest Conference) found a rhythm in Game 2 but was unable to finish off a comeback against receiving votes Missouri Baptist (18-7, 4-0), dropping the doubleheader by 4-0 and 5-3 results respectively.
Woods was able to contain Missouri Baptist through the first two frames of the afternoon, retiring the Spartans in order in the bottom of the first and holding them to one baserunner in the bottom of the second.
Unfortunately for the Owls, MBU could also keep the scoreboard silent.
A pair of walks turned into Spartan runs in the bottom of the third, but after retiring in order in the top of the fourth and giving up back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the inning, the Owls settled in and snuffed the MBU threat.
The Owls weren't as fortunate in the bottom of the fifth, as Missouri Baptist doubled its lead on a single to left by Allison Leigraf.
WWU escaped the fifth without further damage and kept the Spartans scoreless in the sixth but couldn't mount a comeback.
Missouri Baptist struck in the bottom of the first in Game 2, but Woods had an immediate answer as Iliana Manzano singled to right field, and Ally Mahoney crushed her fifth homer of the year to put the Owls in front 2-1.
The Spartans tied things up at the bottom of the second and stranded a pair of WWU baserunners at the top of the third to keep things level.
A two-out, three-RBI double in the bottom of the fourth was followed by a walk, putting runners on the corners as Meghan Hager advanced to third as Woods tried for an out at the plate.
MBU tried to add another run to its lead as Miranda Ladson continued an extended leadoff into a steal of second. However, wary of Hager at third, Mahoney alertly fired the ball back to Randermann in the circle.
Hager hesitated slightly before retreating to third, but the brief hesitation was enough for her to be called out on the look-back rule and end the inning.
Woods found an unconventional path out of the Spartan threat in the bottom of the fifth. After the Owls surrendered a baserunner on their third-inning error, Ella Aguiar scooped up the ball. She fired to Brooklyn Spillman at third, who could chase the runner down, with Mahoney offering backup at the plate.
Brook Lopez brought the Owls within two in the top of the sixth, converting a leadoff single into a run on consecutive singles by Mahoney and Morgan Collins, then Woods knocked out a one-two-three inning and tried to spark a rally.
Rylee Hagens singled and moved to second on a single by Aguiar. A sacrifice bunt by Jessica Keilholz put runners in scoring position for the middle of the Owls' order, but MBU's second baseman snagged Lopez's liner, and Donovan flew out to center to end the game.
The Owls continue AMC play with a home doubleheader against Cottey College. Originally scheduled for Friday, Woods will host the Comets in a 2 p.m. Wednesday doubleheader.