LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell softball team brought the drama to their 2026 home opener winning both ends of a doubleheader with the University of Mary in walk off fashion. The Cardinals, who improved to 5-9 on the season, took game one 3-2 before winning the nightcap 4-3, in eight innings.
Game One: Jewell 3, UMary 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Marauders got on the board first with an RBI double to right center and added a score in the fourth with sac fly.
- Down to their final opportunity, Reagan Bennett led off with a single with Madison Lehr coming on to pinch run, scoring the first Jewell tally on a double down the line off the bat of Mikayla Chairez. Amanda Chung tied the game with a base hit through the left side before Avery Webster singled the other way to plate the winning run.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- The Cardinals finished with nine hits, as Chairez, Chung, Bennett, and Tori Woodard all had two a piece.
- Reagan Bennett (1-5) got the win in the circle, tossing a scoreless seventh while Olivia Wood was solid in the start, allowing a single earned run over six frames.
Game Two: Jewell 4, UMary 3 (8 Inn.)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UMary again took the early lead, taking advantage of three walks in the first inning. The Marauders added two more in the fourth frame for the 3-0 lead.
- Jewell got one back on a sac fly from Bennett, scoring Emma Jane Ogle who singled.
- In the bottom of the seventh, with two outs, Makenna Cerny dropped a single into center field before Chairez blasted a game tying two-run home run to left.
- With the international tie breaker in effect, Amanda Chung took the first pitch she saw down the left field line to plate Lexi Lopez for the walk off win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Jewell had five hits in game two from five different players while Chairez finished with a home run, two RBI, and a run scored.
- Olivia Wood (1-2) picked up the win in relief, coming on for a key strikeout in the top of the eighth with two runners scoring position.
UP NEXT
Jewell and UMary continue action tomorrow with the second half of a four-game series, with first pitch set for 3 p.m.