Nutt Captures 150th Win as Lady Eagles Battle in Sweep of (RV) Tennessee Southern

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/28/26) – The Williams Baptist University softball team woke up on offense in a doubleheader sweep of (RV) Tennessee Southern to give head coach Jessica Nutt the 150th win of her career at the WBU Softball Field on Saturday.

GAME ONE - Williams 5, (RV) Tennessee Southern 1

The Lady Eagles struck first in the opening inning when Ashlyn Michael scored Kaylee Wolfe on an RBI double to put WBU ahead 1-0 early.  

Williams created separation in the middle innings when Madyson Busselle broke through for her first homer of the season to extend the lead to 2-0 in the fourth.  Later in the frame, WBU added another run when Brooke Scott brought home Olivia Huckabee to push it to 3-0.

In the fifth, Breann Thresher doubled to left to score Kyrah Banister, extending the margin to 4-0, and Ashlyn Michael capped a big game with an RBI single to center, scoring Huckabee again for a 5-0 advantage.

Tennessee Southern avoided the shutout in the seventh, but the Eagles held on to close out the win.

Morgan Garner (W, 4-4) earned the win, throwing 7.0 innings and seven strikeouts.

GAME TWO - Williams 10, (RV) Tennessee Southern 9 (8 Innings)

Both teams combined for 32 total hits in a back-and-forth extra-inning affair in the back half of the twin bill.

Tennessee Southern struck first with a three-run second inning before WBU answered immediately in the third.

The Eagles cut the deficit to 3-2 on a Taylor Youngblood RBI single and a bases-loaded walk to Breann Thresher before Madyson Busselle put Williams on top 5-3 with a bases-clearing three run double to cap off a five-run frame.

Tennessee Southern chipped back in the fourth with a run, and Williams responded again in the bottom half with an RBI double from Addison Foster to restore a two-run cushion at 6-4.

The Firehawks struck back with three runs in the top of the fifth to surge in front 7-6, but the advantage did not last as Kaelyn Gooch tied it with an RBI single.  Brooke Scott delivered a two-run knock later in the frame to push WBU ahead again 9-7. 

UT-Southern kept coming with a run in the sixth to cut the deficit to one, and another in the seventh to tie the ballgame at 9-9.  The Firehawks stranded the go-ahead run at second to send the game tied to the bottom of the inning.  Gooch led off the frame with a single, but was stranded to put the game in extra innings.

With the go-ahead run on second in the top of the eighth and two outs, Gooch cut down the go-ahead run at the plate to Firehawks' threat in the top of the eighth and keep the game tied.

In the eighth, Williams finally landed the finishing blow when Addison Foster singled to center to bring home the winning run and seal the 10-9 victory and sweep the doubleheader.

Morgan Garner (W, 5-4) earned her second win of the day after shutting down the Firehawks in the eighth inning.  Emberlin Caldwell tossed 5.0 innings to start the game, and Brianna McPike tossed an inning in relief.

The second win of the day was the 150th in the career of Lady Eagles head coach Jessica Nutt.  She is the second-winningest head coach in WBU softball program history.

The wins move WBU to 12-6 overall on the season.  Next, the Lady Eagles will travel to McKenzie, Tenn. to face Bethel on Monday, March 2.  First pitch of the doubleheader against the Wildcats is set for 3 p.m.