COLUMBIA, Mo. — Stephens College wrapped up its 2025 home softball schedule Saturday with a hard-fought doubleheader split against the visiting Central Baptist Mustangs, started the afternoon trailing behind the Mustangs 1-11 in the first and rallying late for an 8–7 victory to close the evening.
Game 1: Central Baptist 11, Stephens 1
Central Baptist struck for nine runs in the sixth inning, breaking open what had been a 2–0 game and putting the contest out of reach. Stephens struggled to contain a Mustang lineup that racked up 14 hits, including a three-run home run that capped the explosive inning.
Stephens managed to avoid the shutout in the bottom of the sixth when Kara Krieger singled in Greathouse, who had come off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit single and spark a brief rally.
Game 2: Stephens 8, Central Baptist 7
The second game was powered by a momentum-shifting third inning and a clutch performance from sophomore second baseman Landry Bales, who finished with five RBIs on the day, including a bases-clearing triple that turned a 3–0 deficit into a 4–3 lead. Down early after a three-run third by the Mustangs, Stephens roared back behind Bales' big bat and strong situational hitting from Katie Dennis, whose RBI single started the rally.
Bales added a two-run double in the fifth, giving the Stars room at 6–3. After Central Baptist trimmed the lead to two in the sixth, Stephens responded once again—Savannah Greathouse and Elise Kendrick each crossed the plate thanks to wild pitches and a timely RBI double from Kendrick to push the lead to 8–4.
Though Central Baptist threatened with a three-run homer in the seventh, Kendrick closed the door for Stephens, securing her first save of the season.
Despite the split, Stephens (13–17, 7–5 AMC) ends its home schedule on a high note with a spirited comeback in the opener and remains in solid position heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
The Stars hit the road next Friday, April 18, traveling to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, to take on Williams Baptist College in another conference doubleheader. The first pitch is set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
