FULTON, Mo. – The (RV) William Woods University baseball team was able to split a Saturday afternoon American Midwest Conference doubleheader against Hannibal-LaGrange University, falling 10-6 in game one before wining game two in comeback fashion 5-4.
 
After settling for the doubleheader split on the day, the Owls (26-9; 13-6 AMC) escaped with the weekend series over the Trojans taking two of the three games. Even though WWU took two-of–three from Hannibal-LaGrange, the game two loss dropped the Owls into third place in the AMC standings, as Missouri Baptist University and Freed-Hardeman were able to sweep its three-game series this weekend, over taking William Woods in the standings.
 
Game One William Woods 6 Hannibal-LaGrange 10
 
The Trojans took the early lead, as Josh Cantrell singled and with a wild pitch was able to advance to second, while he stole third base on Drew Morecraft's walk. Edwin Dominguez hit a soft grounder to third base to score Cantrell and put the first run on the board for HLG.
 
The Owls responded in the bottom of the first, after a Larry Price walk, Cody Stewart's single to shallow right to move Price all the way to third putting him in 90 feet from the plate with Austin Clapp up. Clapp would hit a hard grounder up the middle, only giving the Trojans the choice for the double play, which allowed Price to score and tie the game 1-1.
 
In the top of second, the Trojans added another run on two outs, as HLG took advantage of a William Woods error and a deep double from Cantrell as Hannibal-LaGrange regained the lead, 2-1.
 
The Owls would knot it back up again in the bottom of the third, scoring one run on two hits. However, the Trojans answered right away in the top of the fourth, plating two more runs, making the score 4-2.
 
HLG was looking to add to its lead in the top of the seventh, as they had bases loaded with one out in the frame, for Dominguez to add two more RBI's on the day with a single which started the rally for the Trojans. Hannibal-LaGrange went on to score a total of give runs in the final inning, pushing the lead to 10-2 going into the bottom of the seventh.
 
Despite the Owls late offense surge to plate four runs and trying to make it a thrilling comeback, Hannibal's David Evans came in for starter Dre Jensen to recorded the last out and take game two of the series 10-6 over the Owls.
 
Stewart picked up right where he left off from yesterday's impressive eight RBI day, as the senior went 3-for-4 from the plate, collecting one RBI and scoring a run. Price was a perfect 2-for-2 and scoring three runs, while Clapp and Nick Spagnola each added a hit.
 
Dre Jensen would pick up the win for the Trojans, as he tossed 6.2 innings of six runs on nine hits, while Evans recorded the save. Cantrell paced the Trojans going four-for-four from the plate.
 
Game Two William Woods 5 Hannibal-LaGrange 4
 
Hannibal-LaGrange University jumped out to an early 3-0 after the first three innings of play, and then both teams were no-run through the next four innings, making it a pitching and defense duol going into the last three innings of the game.
 
In the top of the seventh, with two outs, the Trojans would push another run across with an Ian Dotson double to right field and a Seth Brown single, scoring Dotson to extend HLG lead to 4-0.
 
Being shut out for eight scoreless innings, WWU broke through with a lead off double and single off the bats of Dustin Kremer and Spagnola, putting them in scoring position, Jordan Dey drew a walk to load the bases for WWU. Then with two outs, Owls catcher Grant Garrett cleared the bases driving in Kremer, Spagnola and Dey with a clutch double to deep left-center, getting within one of the Trojans, 4-3. The two-out, base -clearing double of Garrett's would end the day for HLG starter Robert Ortega, as Matt Jones came into relief, walking Price, giving the Owls RBI leader, Stewart, a chance to tie the game up. With a double to left-center, the senior would collect his 33^rd RBI on the season tying the game up at 4-4.
 
The Owls defense and pitching from Dylan Hastings would stay strong and not allow the Trojans to get a run across, to head into the bottom of the ninth inning for WWU last chance to win the final game of the series.
 
With one out and no one on, Nick Spagnola hit a line drive down right field line and with the senior's speed he turned the hit into a stand up triple, putting the winning run for the Owls just 90 feet away for WWU next batter Konrad Kemper. Kemper, struck out swinging and which looked to be the second out in the inning, HLG catcher dropped the third strike and threw it down to first base trying to get Kemper out, as Spagnola broke from third base on the throw and scored the winning run.
 
The Owls recorded five runs on ten hits, scoring all five runs in the final two innings of the game as the team made a thrilling come from behind victory to conclude the three game series on the weekend against HLG.
 
Stewart and Spagnola each totaled a pair of hits, while six other players chipped in a hit, while Hastings collected the win in his 2.0 crucial innings of work.
 
""We are very fortunate to gain a split today," said head coach Darren Munns.  "Hannibal completely outplayed us in every phase of the game.  Our pen gave us a chance in game two, and I give our guys credit for coming from behind and salvaging the split."
 
The Owls return to action on Tuesday April 14^th as the team hosts Avila University in a doubleheader with the first pitch of the action starting at 1:00 p.m at Owls Field.
 
Fans check back on wwuowls.com for a full preview of this non conference match up on Monday.

Tweet ##Owls_BB