JOPLIN, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball team will look to continue its winning ways this weekend, as the team is set to play four games in two days at the Joplin Tournament. First pitch of the tournament for the Owls is set for 11:30 a.m. Friday morning against Midland University.
 
The Owls (3-1) are coming off a solid season opening weekend, where the team defeated Bethel University(4-2) last Friday and then went on to win a three game series against Christian Brothers University, outscoring the Bucs 17-5.
 
In the first four games of the season,  the Owls offense is batting .307 from the plate, while holding its opponents to just .109 offensively. The team has collected 21 runs so far, off 39 hits, while nabbing 10 stolen bases.
 
Stephen Kohler led the Owls offensively, as the senior went 4-for-9 on the weekend, totaling two RBI's and scoring four runs. Another senior, Javier Ledesma, had a strong outing as well, batting .400 from the plate, while Larry Price ended the weekend on a strong note, batting .357 and posting a team-high five RBI's.
 
On the mound, WWU combined for a team ERA of 1.64, which ranks the Owls No. 3 in the nation, as they only allowed 22 hits in four games. On the weekend, there were three Owl pitchers collecting wins, which included James Ball, Dylan Hastings and Ryan Schmidt.
 
The Owls will kick-off the Joplin Tournament Friday against Midland University, with the 11:30 a.m. first pitch. The Warriors are currently 4-2 on the season, as MID is coming off a two-game sweep against Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) this past Monday, where they outscored the Lions 25-6 in the double-header.
 
On the season, offensively, Alex Parsons leads the way for Midland, as the sophomore is batting .444, collecting three RBI's and scoring two runs. Cole Gray is another player the Owls will have to keep an eye on, as the sophomore outfielder is 7-for-18 from the plate, tallying three RBI's, while scoring six runs.
 
On the hill, Rob Wheeler has recorded a 1.29 ERA in seven innings pitched, while only giving up two hits. Johnson Wyatt leads the Warriors pitching staff in strikeouts with five in three innings of work.
 
Then later Friday afternoon, the Owls will face Benedictine College for a 2:00 p.m. game start.  The Ravens are currently still looking for its first win of the 2015 season (0-6), as the team is coming off a two game skid against The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, falling 2-1 and 12-2 in the double-header.
 
Offensively Josh Kagarise, paces the way for the Ravens, batting .375, while Jacob Kirmer is 5-for-18 from the plate, recording a team-high in hits(five) and RBI's (three). Benedictine College has been outscored by opponents 54-12 on the season and hitting .195 as a team.
 
On the mound, they have a team ERA of 11.60, as Adam Burns leads the staff, with a 4.38 ERA, while totaling seven strikeouts in 12 innings pitched.
 
The Owls will turn around on Saturday and face both the Warriors and Ravens again at Wendell Redden Stadium in Joplin, Missouri to round up the Joplin Tournament. Saturday's match-ups will start again at 11:30 p.m. first pitch against Midland University and then end the weekend with a 4:30 p.m. start against Benedictine College.
 
Fans stay updated on wwuowls.com for full recaps and scores this weekend from Joplin, Missouri.

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