Box Score FULTON, Mo.- After sweeping the season series last year against Northwestern College, the William Woods baseball team comeback fell short, as the team fell 3-2

Junior Adam Brush got the ball and made his 2013 pitching debut on the mound against Northwestern College, in hopes of getting the Owls season started on the right foot. After retiring the first two batters in the bottom half of the first, Brush 0-1 pitch was hit for a home run off the bat of Cody Groskreutz giving the Red Raiders an early 1-0 lead.

Then, in the top of the second inning, Derek Fletcher hit a one out double putting the Owls in scoring position. Eilert Meyers came up to the dish next and hit a single, scoring Fletcher and tying the game back up at 1-1. The Red Raiders didn't wait long in trying to regain their lead back, as Noah Bohlmann also hit a one out double, putting his team in good position in the bottom of the second inning.

After a walk to #8 hitter Davis Bloemendall, Northwestern had runners at first and second with only one out. However, Brush zeroed in and got Taylor Morris and Corey Van Gorp to strike out, ending the inning.

In the bottom half of the third, after a five pitch walk to Tony Schultz, Brett Rolls came in as a pinch runner. Brush got Nikko Melonas to ground out to first, but Rolls was able to advance to second on the play. Then, after homering in the first inning, Groskreutz struck again as he hit a single, scoring Rolls and giving the Red Raiders a 2-1 lead.

After a throwing error by Austin Clapp that allowed Mitch Peschon to reach base and Groskreutz to advance to second base, Brush and the Owls got a key second out as Erik Widener grounded into a fielders choice, making the second out.

With Groskreutz on third and Widener on first, Brush looked to end the inning and keep the deficit only at one. However, the Red Raiders pulled a double steal and Groskreutz was able safe at home, extending the Northwestern College lead to 3-1 at the end of the third.

The next three innings became a pitchers battle as Brush and Ryan Brasser for Northwestern College started to find their groove on the mound. At the end of six innings, the score remained 3-1 and each team had three hits apiece.

In the top of the seventh, the Owls started to threaten, as Derek Fletcher and Meyers hit back-to-back singles, giving WWU runners on first and second with two outs. Pinch runners Ryan Schuermann came in for Fletcher and Damon Adrian came in to run for Meyers, giving the Owls some speed.

Zach Nichols came in to pinch-hit for Robert Butvin and the junior didn't disappoint as he hit a single, scoring Schuermann and cutting the lead down to 3-2 with two outs. Sophomore infielder Clapp came to the plate and had the chance to tie or when the game. Austine made connection on the ball, however, flew out to the center-fielder ending the game.

The Owls out-hit the Red Raiders 6-3 and Brush did his best on the mound going six innings, allowing three runs, three hits and striking out seven. Fletcher ended the day 2-3 with one run scored and Meyers also had two hits and one RBI. Groskreutz went 2-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.

The Owls fall to 0-1 but will look to get their first win of the season tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. in a rematch against Northwestern College.