FULTON, Mo.—The (RV) William Woods University baseball team collected its seventh win in a row on Tuesday in front of the home crowd, as the Owls defeated Culver-Stockton College, 4-2.
Offensively, the Owls (11-3) totaled four runs on seven hits, and were led by
Austin Clapp, going 3-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.
Larry Price,
Jordan Dey and
Nick Spagnola, were the other players to collect one hit in the game, while Spagnola led the team with two runs scored. Joining Clapp in the RBI department, meanwhile, was
Stephen Kohler, Dey and
Konrad Kemper.
On the mound, the Owls used five pitchers, who combined to allow just four hits and strike out seven Wildcats.
Garrett Haslag got the ball to start the game and gave the Owls a solid 2.2 innings of work, as he allowed two runs (zero earned) on one hit and struck out one.
After Haslag exited the game, the quartet of
Ryan Schmidt,
Caleb Bounds,
Dylan Hastings and
James Ball continued to keep the C-SC bats quiet, as they combined to allow just three hits and strike out six batters.
Schmidt was able to pick up the win for WWU, as he put in 2.1 innings of work, allowing no runs, zero hits and struck out three. Ball was able to pick up his second save on the season, as he was able to secure the two-run win for the Owls.
After two scoreless innings against the Wildcats (4-13), C-SC was able to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning, as Nay Seldomridge and Chris Moussa worked consecutive one out walks.
After Haslag got the next batter to fly out, Brock Kartheiser reached base on an Owls defensive error, which allowed Seldomridge to score from second and give the team a 1-0 advantage, while putting runners on the corners.
Then, both Alonso Ruz and Jake Pott were hit-by-pitch, which brought home another run for C-SC and gave them a two run lead.
That lead, however, was short-lived, as in the home half of the third, Price reached base on a bunt single and was able to advance to second base on a wild throw from the Wildcat defense.
Cody Stewart laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, which moved Price over to third.
Then, the offense got going, as Dey ripped a single to left, which scored Price and narrowed the lead down to 2-1. After Spagnola reached on a fielder's choice, Clapp singled thru the hole at short, which brought home Spagnola and tied the game up at 2-2.
In the bottom of the fifth, the team added another bunt single on the day, this time coming off the bat of Spagnola, to start the inning. Clapp then singled and the duo was able to move up to second and third, after
Alex St. Pierre put down a sacrifice bunt.
Konrad Kemper came to the dish next and ripped a line drive to left center, but the left fielder, Kartheiser, made a diving catch, saving two runs, but Spagnola was able to score on the play still and give WWU a 3-2 lead. After
Dustin Kremer was hit-by-pitch, Kohler reached base on a fielder's choice at second, which allowed Clapp to score from third and extend the teams' lead to 4-2.
That score remained the same till the top of the ninth, as Angel Concepcion was able to lead the inning off with a walk. Ball then got the next two batters to strikeout, but Brandon Cotter kept the inning going with a single, which put the tying run on first.
Ball, however, was able to bare down and get Kartheiser to fly-out to right field, which ended the game and gave the Owls a two run victory.
Tyler Smith was dealt the loss for Culver-Stockton, as he went 4.0 innings in relief action, allowing two runs on three hits and struck out one.
The Owls will return to action at a neutral site this week in its first American Midwest Conference (AMC) games, as they take on (RV) Freed-Hardeman University
at Harris-Stowe State on Thursday. First-pitch of the doubleheader will be thrown at 12 p.m.
Fans make sure to stay updated on wwuowls.com tomorrow afternoon for a full preview of Thursday's AMC showdown.
