MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Due to inclement weather back home, the William Woods University baseball team takes to the road for the third straight weekend, as they travel to Memphis, Tenn., for a three-game series against Ashford University. The series will open on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 6 p.m., and conclude on Sunday with a 12 p.m. start time.
Originally, William Woods (8-1) was slated to play its 2014 home opener this weekend against Ashford University (3-1) and Briar Cliff University. However, due to an unfavorable weekend forecast, the Owls had to delay its home opener and settle for a three-game set against Ashford at Gaglinano Field on the campus of Victory University. Â
WWU is coming off another successful road trip, as they went 3-1 in the Joplin Tournament last weekend in Joplin, Mo. The Owls suffered its first defeat in the opening game to Viterbo University, falling 2-1 before sweeping a pair of games against Waldorf College (7-3) and Grand View University (5-2) on Saturday afternoon. William Woods concluded the weekend by avenging Friday's loss to Viterbo, by defeating the Eagles 7-1 on Sunday.
The Owls had a pair of outstanding pitching performances from Dane Smith and Bubba Bradshaw. Smith went six innings, giving up two runs and striking out six, in a 5-2 win against Grand View University last Saturday, and Bradshaw tossed five innings of shutout baseball on Sunday against Viterbo University to help his team pick up the 7-1 victory.
Smith has been the ace of the staff for far on the season, as he is currently 2-0 on the year with a 1.38 ERA in two starts. The righty has struck out 11 batters in his 13 innings of work, and is holding opposing teams to a .184 batting average.
James Ball is another pitcher who has made a big impact through the season's first nine games. The righty has been a solid weapon for Head Coach Darren Munns out of the bullpen, as he is 2-0 with a pair of saves and has yet to have yield a run in his 14 innings of work. Teams are hitting just .125 against Ball on the year, and his 11 strikeouts are tied with Smith for the team lead.
Offensively for the Owls, they are being led by newcomer Cody Stewart. The speedy centerfielder is hitting .550 in the early part of the season, and has a team-high five stolen bases. Stewart holds a team-best .589 on-base percentage and has helped set the table for RBI leaders Zach Nichols and Nick Spagnola.
The duo had a strong showing at the Joplin Tournament, as they went a combined 9-for-21 with 11 RBIs. Spagnola had a solid performance all weekend, as he drove in a run in all three games he appeared in, while Nichols had a monster game against Grand View by driving in all five of his runs on the weekend against the Vikings.
On the year, Nichols and Spagnola are tied for the team lead in RBIs with 10 apiece. Each have slugged two doubles this season.
Ashford University opened its season last weekend, as they were able to take three of four from Purdue University North Central. The Saints got a strong pitching performance from three of their starters, as McKinley Portice, Steve Sotiropoulos, and Jimmy Six went a combined 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in 18.1 innings of work.
Tanner Courtney had a big weekend for Ashford, as he hit .538 against PUNC and slugged two doubles and a homerun while driving in four runs in the four-game series.
William Woods holds the 9-5 advantage against Ashford University in the all-time series. The two teams split a doubleheader last season at the Lake Shawnee Tournament in Topeka, Kan., as the Saints took game one 4-1 before the Owls rallied and took game two by a score of 18-4.
Check back with wwuowls.com for a recap of every game during the 2014 season.
