Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 FULTON, Mo.- After multiple cancellations and make-up game attempts, the William Woods baseball team finally was able to square off against Hannibal-LaGrange. The Owls continued their hot hitting, as they won game one 5-4 in comeback fashion and ran away in game two, sweeping the Trojans 12-1.
Dane Smith was back on the mound for the Owls in game one and his return didn't start off to well, as the Trojans scored three runs on three hits, getting RBI from Ian Sikes and Drew Morecraft (2), to take a 3-0 lead early.
Smith, however, did settle down the next few innings and was removed in the bottom of the fourth inning, after allowing Thad McVeigh to hit a one out double and then two batters later Brandon Bennett to single up the middle, scoring McVeigh, extending the Trojan lead to 4-0. Still, Smith did his best keeping the Owls in the game as his box score read 3 1/3 innings pitched, allowing four runs on seven hits and struck out one.
In the top of the fifth, Greg Hamrock led the inning off with a single up the middle and was able to advance to third base, after
Stephen Kohler doubled down the right field line. After
Zach Nichols flied out,
Matt Thomas then reached base on second baseman Travis Mundahl's bobble and wild throw, allowing both Hamrock and Kohler to score, cutting the lead down to 4-2.
That score stayed the same up until the top of the seventh, and the inning didn't start out to well for the team, as Kohler popped out and Nichols flied out, getting two quick outs for the Owls. Thomas got things going for the team with a single to center and
Ryan Schuermann who pinch-ran for Thomas advanced to second on a wild pitch by Blake Zurliene.
Derek Fletcher and
Eilert Meyers both received consecutive walks, loading up the bases for
Ryan Sweet.
Sweet forced the third walk in a row by Zurliene, allowing Schuermann to score and everyone else move up a base, putting the score at 4-3.
Kyle Switzer came up next and didn't get a walk, but did make contact hitting a single up the middle, tying the game up at 4-4 at the end of seven innings.
In the top of the ninth, Thomas led off with a double to deep center, but was forced out after a
Justin Elmore bunt, putting Elmore on first with one out. Meyers then struck out, and Trojan catcher Ian Sikes tried to pick-off Elmore at first, but his throw went wild into right field allowing Elmore to move up to second. Right fielder Andrew Pollard threw wild to second base, trying to get Elmore, and that allowed Elmore to score all the way from second, giving the Owls the 4-3 lead and the one run victory.
The relievers of
Trevor Manis,
Kyle Muzechka and Thomas threw 5 2/3 innings pitched of shut-out ball, allowing zero hits and striking out five. Thomas and Switzer led the offense with two hits apiece, while Hamrock, Kohler and Meyers each added one hit.
In game two, the offense came out swinging, scoring nine runs on six hits, taking a commanding 9-0 lead over the Trojans. This is the second time in three games where the team had an offensive outburst, as they scored eight runs in the first inning against Park in the series finale.
The Owls went on to add one more run in the fifth and two more in the sixth, cruising to a 12-1 victory. Starter
Garret Haslag got the win for William Woods, throwing 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out one.
The 3-4 hitters of Nichols and Thomas combined to go 5-for-7 with three runs scored and five RBI. Hamrock had good day at the leadoff position, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Sweet and
Austin Clapp both went 2-for-3, with Sweet scoring twice and Clapp adding one RBI.
The Owls (15-14, 11-7 AMC), have now won five out of their last six games and will be back in action tomorrow in front of the home crowd in a non-conference match up against Lindenwood University-Belleville. First-pitch is set to be thrown at 1:00 p.m.
