OLATHE, Kan. – The William Woods University baseball team hits the road to play a non-conference Tuesday afternoon doubleheader, as they travel to Dixon Stadium to take on MidAmerica Nazarene University. The first game is slated to start at 2 p.m., followed by a 4:30 p.m. start time for game two.
William Woods (27-9) comes into Tuesday's doubleheader on a high-note, as they are fresh off of a series home against No. 3 Missouri Baptist University. The Owls took two of three from the No. 3-ranked Spartans at Owls Field over the weekend, giving them a pair of marque victories on the season. The wins also strengthen an already stellar resume for WWU. Coming into the weekend, William Woods was already receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, and with a pair of wins over the No. 3-ranked team, they should see a rise in the poll when it is released around 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
Junior Nick Spagnola had a monster series at the plate against the Spartans, as the Algonquin, Ill., native hit an even .400 (4-for-10) with a double, triple, and home run. The three extra-base hits helped him drive in four RBI and score four runs in the three-game series. The outfielder also was a perfect 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts on the weekend, giving him 16 on the year.
Reliever James Ball also came up big for WWU, as he was able to close out the first two games of the series to record his ninth and 10th saves of the year.
The pair of saves this past weekend made him just the second player in program history to record double-digits saves in a single season. He needs just three more saves to surpass Alex Cann's single-season record of 12 set back in 2011. The two saves also places Ball fifth on the school's all-time saves list, breaking a tie he had coming into this weekend with Shawn Anderson.
Like WWU, MidAmerica Nazarene (24-11) received votes in the most recent Top 25 poll. The Pioneers currently stand in first place in the Heart of America Athletic Conference, as they have a 12-4 record inside the HAAC. MNU has won five straight coming into Tuesday's contest, and are winners in 13 of its last 15 games.
The Pioneers are coming off of a four-game sweep of Baker University, where they outscored the Wildcats, 31-6. The high offensive output from the series is nothing new for MidAmerica Nazarene, as they are 19th in the NAIA in runs scored per game at 6.97.
Second baseman, Jordan Eckley, leads the MNU offense with his .395 batting average. Eckley leads the team in hits (49), doubles (13), triples, (5), and is tied for the team lead in home runs with three. The 21 extra-base hits have enabled the second baseman to post a team-best .653 slugging percentage.
On the mound, Trent Hedlund anchors a staff that currently holds an ERA of 4.07. The junior has made a team-high 10 starts on the year, and is 7-3 with a 3.52 ERA and seven complete games. The 10 starts are by far the most of any pitcher on staff, as the next closest is Tino Luna with five starts.
William Woods will be looking add on to its undefeated record in midweek play this season, as they are a perfect 8-0 in games during the week.
This will be 13th and 14th meeting all-time between these schools. WWU holds the all-time lead, 8-4. Tuesday's games is also the first time these two schools have played on another since the 2012 season. That season, the school's split a pair of games.
Check back with wwuowls.com for a full recap of both games.
