Box Score FULTON, Mo.- After falling in their season opener against Northwestern College, the William Woods University baseball team was able to earn their first win on the 2013 year, defeating the Red Raiders 2-1.
The game turned out to be another pitching duel, as the Owls totaled just two hits, while the Red Raiders only had three. However, it was William Woods getting on the board in the bottom of the first, as after
Zach Nichols and
Matt Thomas received back-to-back walks, Red Raider pitcher Tyler Stueman made two crucial mistakes.
Stueman threw one passed ball that allowed Nichols and Thomas to advance up a base. Then, another passed ball was allowed, which scored Nichols from third, giving WWU a 1-0 early lead. Northwestern was able to tie the game up at 1-1 in the top of the third, as Corey Van Gorp led the inning off with a double. After a sacrifice fly to WWU right fielder
Matt Thomas off the bat of Tony Schultz that allowed Van Goorp to advance to third with just one out.
Nikko Melonas came up for the Red Raiders and reached base after an error by Owls first baseman
Eilert Meyers, which allowed Van Gorp to score, tying up the game, with each teams runs coming off zero base hits.
In the bottom half of the third,
Stephen Kohler and Greg Hamerock each hit back-to-back singles, putting the Owls in good shape with runners on first and second and nobody out. Then,
Jacob Harrison came to the dish and was able to reach base on a fielders' choice by shortstop Corey Van Gorp, which allowed Kohler to score from second, giving the Owls a 2-1 lead.
The Red Raiders began to threaten again in the top of the fifth with runners on first and third, with two outs. However, reliever
Matt Thomas, whom came in for
John Cavness was able to keep the runners at bay, having Cody Groskreutz fly out to centerfielder
Justin Elmore, ending the inning.
The Owls were able to hold their one run lead the rest of the game, getting their first win on the season. Cavness threw four innings of two hit ball, allowing one run and striking out three. While reliever Thomas did just as well holding down the Red Raiders for the final three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two. Hamerock and Kohler were the only Owls to get base hits on the day. Stueman's strong outing of two hit ball over six innings and five strikeouts, wasn't enough as the offense couldn't get much going against William Woods.
The team moves their record to 1-1 on the season and are back in action tomorrow against Ashford University in a double-header.
This won't be the first time Ashford and William Woods have played, as both teams played last year twice, with the Owls going 3-1 against the Saints. Besides the 8-5 loss to Ashford last season, all the William Woods victories were all one run games.
WWU won two of the games by the score of 2-1 and won the finale 4-3, with each contest coming down to the final inning. The Saints had a tough 2012 overall and in the conference as the team finished 21-32 (9-15 in the Midwest Collegiate Conference).
This year, both teams have got one victory under their belts, as Ashford defeated Northwestern College in their season opener 7-1. In that game, the Saints were led by Brendan Delany complete game gem. Delany allowed two hits, one run and struck out two Red Raider batters. Offensively, the Saints were led by Kyler Kopach, whom went 3-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Petey Mroz also had a strong day at the plate going 2-4 with one run scored and one run batted in.
While William Woods after dropping their season opener against Northwestern, got their first win in 2013 against Northwestern today by a final of 2-1.
John Cavness and
Matt Thomas combined to go seven innings, throwing three hit ball, allowing just one run. Both of the runs scored by the Owls, came off a passed ball and a fielders' choice.
