OTTAWA, Kan. - The Lady Owls broke a 1-all tie by rallying for two runs in the top of the seventh inning to prevail in the first game of Tuesday's season-opening doubleheader with the Lady Braves.
Ottawa University earned a split by limiting William Woods University to one run on just five hits in the nightcap.
The Lady Owls jumped in front in the opener on junior shortstop Mallory Feldewerth's RBI single in the fifth. The Lady Braves, though, pulled even at 1-all by putting up a run in the bottom of the inning.
Senior pinch-hitter Emma Taylor led off the seventh for William Woods with a triple to right. Taylor then put the Lady Owls in front to stay when she scored on senior left fielder Celeste Sermeno's one-out single to left.
Sermeno advanced to third after freshman center fielder Jaden Swift followed with a single to right and came home on Feldewerth's sacrifice fly to right.
Sophomore second baseman Sydney Wilbeck went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored as William Woods collected eight hits.
Junior starter Alexis Hassler logged the complete-game victory for the Lady Owls. Hassler gave up the earned run on 10 hits, struck out six and walked three.
William Woods scored its lone run in the second game on sophomore catcher Ally Mahoney's RBI groundout in the sixth.
Taylor - playing third base - was 1-for-3 and scored the Lady Owls' run. Hassler, serving as designated player, also finished 1-for-3 with a double.
William Woods junior starter Kalee Wall went 4 1/3 innings in suffering the loss. Wall surrendered six runs - five earned - on 11 hits and walked one.
The Lady Owls were scheduled to play their home opener Friday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader against Evangel Univesity, but the games have been moved to Springfield.