Box Score
JOPLIN, Mo. -- The William Woods University baseball team could not overcome an early deficit on Friday afternoon, as they dropped its first game of the 2014 season to Viterbo University, 2-1, in the first game of the Joplin Tournament.
William Woods (5-1) gave up a run in each of the first two innings, as the Owls could only manage one run off of Viterbo (1-1) starter Evan Taylor, en route to his complete game five-hitter, to hand WWU its first loss of the year.
Five Owls were able to pick up hits off Taylor, but could not manage a significant rally off the righty as they were only able to score a run off a Nick Spagnola double in the fourth inning on the afternoon.
Ryan Yuengel got his second career start for WWU and allowed two runs off four hits in his 2.1 innings pitched. James Ball came in relief of Yuengel in the third inning and tossed 3.2 innings of one-hit ball to keep the Viterbo offense at bay. Ball has yet to have allowed a run in his 13 innings of work this season, and has struck out 11 batters.
WWU will be back in action tomorrow afternoon, as they play two games against Waldorf College and Grand View University. The Owls will take on Waldorf at 1 p.m. and conclude the day with a 6 p.m. contest with Grand View.
Check back with wwuowls.com for a full recap of tomorrow's games.
