KIRKSVILLE, Mo. — The Truman State softball team hosted William Jewell on Saturday and Rockhurst on Sunday, going 1-3 over the two doubleheaders. The Bulldogs picked up a win in the opening game against the Cardinals before dropping the remainder of the weekend slate. Truman falls to 14-26 overall and 6-10 in the GLVC.
Saturday, April 11 vs. William Jewell
Game 1: Truman 13, William Jewell 7
The Bulldogs and Cardinals combined for 20 runs in a back-and-forth affair that saw Truman pull away with a six-run third inning.
William Jewell struck first in the top of the first on a Chairez sacrifice fly to score Matschiner, but Truman answered in the bottom half when Emily Wood scored on an RBI groundout by Katie Pilcher to tie it at 1-1.
The Cardinals reclaimed the lead in the second on a Kelch solo home run to left center, but Truman responded with three runs of its own. Maddie Hickman scored on an RBI groundout by Brooke Nutter, and Cassie Smith singled through the right side for two RBI to score Emily Wood and Shanna Buford, giving Truman a 4-2 lead.
William Jewell swung the momentum back in the third with a Kelch grand slam to left field that plated four and put the Cardinals ahead 6-4. Truman answered with six runs in the bottom of the third to retake control for good. Jayda Long scored on a bases-loaded walk by Shanna Buford, Riley Redig scored on a fielder's choice with help from a Jewell error, and Emily Wood delivered the big blow with a two-RBI double to right center to score Brooke Nutter and Maddie Hickman. Avaree Taylor added an RBI flyout to score Ella Florey, and Emily Wood came home on a wild pitch to push the lead to 10-6.
William Jewell pulled within three in the fifth on an RBI single by Chairez, but Truman answered with three more in the bottom half. Emily Wood scored on a Katie Pilcher sacrifice fly, Cassie Smith came home on a Jayda Long RBI double, and Riley Redig capped the scoring with an RBI single to set the final at 13-7.
Emily Wood went 3-for-4 with two RBI and four runs scored. Jayda Long earned the win (4-0), pitching five innings in relief.
Game 2: William Jewell 8, Truman 1
The Cardinals rode a dominant performance from pitcher Olivia Wood to take the nightcap, holding Truman to just five hits over seven innings.
William Jewell built the lead with four runs in the fourth, capped by a Chairez home run to right field and an Almejo two-RBI double. The Cardinals added two more in the fifth on a Kelch RBI single and an Almejo sacrifice fly.
Truman's lone run came in the sixth when Emily Wood doubled to left center and Maddie Hickman brought her home with an RBI double to make it 6-1. William Jewell tacked on two more in the seventh on another Almejo RBI single to set the final at 8-1.
Madison Kluever started on the mound for Truman and took the loss (2-8), with Brooke Nutter and Jayda Long each pitching in relief.
Sunday, April 12 vs. Rockhurst
Game 1: Rockhurst 7, Truman 0
Rockhurst pitcher Avery Huffman was dominant in the opener, shutting out the Bulldogs on four hits while striking out nine over a complete game.
The Hawks scored twice in the fifth on a Sedam RBI double and a Berry RBI double, then broke the game open with five runs in the seventh. Berry delivered a two-RBI single to score Fulk and Moreno, and Bristow capped the inning with a two-RBI single of her own to set the final at 7-0.
Madison Kluever started and took the loss (2-9), with Lydia Feiste pitching the final two innings.
Game 2: Rockhurst 5, Truman 3
Truman showed resilience in the afternoon game, scoring in three separate innings and staying competitive against the Rockhurst attack.
Maddie Hickman got the Bulldogs on the board in the second inning, singling through the left side and eventually scoring on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.
Rockhurst answered with a Pugh home run to center in the third to tie it, then scored four times in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. A Tipton two-RBI double to right field was the key blow of the inning.
Truman kept fighting. Paige Branstetter scored in the fifth on a Katie Pilcher RBI hit-by-pitch to make it 5-2, and Sofia Birkenholz hit a solo home run to left field in the sixth to pull the Bulldogs within two at 5-3. Truman threatened again in the seventh with a runner on third, but could not push another run across and dropped the finale.
Jayda Long started and pitched 3.1 innings. Avaree Taylor tossed 2.2 innings of relief, and Brooke Nutter worked a scoreless final inning. Rockhurst's Huffman earned the win (13-8).
Up Next:
The Bulldogs have completed a long homestand and will now be on the road for doubleheaders against Southwest Baptist on Saturday and Drury on Sunday with both doubleheaders starting at noon. The Bulldogs will look to get a weekend sweep to keep pace in the GLVC standings.
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