WBU Overcomes Stephens in AMC Tournament Opening Round

BRANSON, Mo. (4/28/26)  – The Williams Baptist University softball team won its first game of the American Midwest Conference Tournament over Stephens, 7-4, on Tuesday afternoon.

Brooke Scott (2-4, 2 RBI) and Madyson Busselle (1-4, 3 RBI) led the way on offense for WBU in the opening round game.

Stephens struck first for the first three runs of the ballgame in the top of the first inning on four hits and an error.  

The Lady Eagles responded in the bottom half of the inning with two runs off the bat of Madyson Busselle on a fielder's choice.  In the second, Kaylee Wolfe tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI single.

Both pitchers locked down after that, as neither team was able to find a run until a lightning delay paused play for an hour and 35 minutes.

Fresh out of the delay, Madyson Busselle broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single to right that scored Kaylee Wolfe.

After another shut-down inning on defense, Taylor Youngblood added an insurance run with a solo homer to put Williams ahead 5-3.  Later in the inning, Scott singled home two more runs to push the advantage out to 7-3.

Stephens got a run back on a solo shot in the top of the seventh, but WBU closed out the victory to advance in the tournament on the winner's side.

Emberlin Caldwell (W, 21-4) earned the win with six strikeouts in the complete game effort.  Caldwell allowed just one run after the first to limit the damage and allow the Eagles to come back.

The Lady Eagles improve to 40-11 overall this season.  Williams will advance to face the winner of No. 4 Central Baptist and No. 5 Mission in the second round of the tournament.  First pitch is set for noon on Wednesday, April 29.