FULTON, Mo.- With 12 seniors honored, The William Woods University baseball team captured its 30th win on the season, with the doubleheader sweep against Benedictine University at Springfield Friday afternoon, taking game one in a thriller extra-inning 4-3 win and then securing the sweep with a 5-1 game two victory.
 
The Owls (30-9; 15-6 AMC) came back after a 3-0 deficit going into the fifth inning in game one, to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh and then plating the game-winning run in the bottom of the tenth for the come back win. WWU then took control of game two for the sweep on the day and extending its win streak up to five.
 
Game One William Woods 4 Benedictine University at Springfield 3
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first, after a two-out, Blake Gand's solo home run. BU held the Owls scoreless for the next three innings, before adding two more runs to its advantage.
 
In the top of the fourth, after a Edwin Covas walk, Tyler McKenzie doubled down the left field line, scoring Covas all the way from first base, to give the Bulldogs the 2-0 lead. After an Owls error and walk, BU would load the bases, ending WWU starting pitcher, John Cavness' day, being relieved by James Ball. With no outs, the senior got out of the jam but Benedictine was able to plate another run, extending its lead to 3-0.
 
After being shut out for five innings, the Owls offense got its first two runs of the day on the board, all on two outs. Nick Spagnola started the rally with a single and then stole second base, putting himself in scoring position for the Owls leading RBI hitter, Cody Stewart. The senior came through yet again with his 38^th RBI on the season with a single up the middle, scoring Spagnola. Later in the inning, Stewart would score off a Bulldogs error to get within one of BU, 3-2.
 
Just like all season, the Owls wouldn't go down without a fight, as the top of the order got things going in the bottom of the seventh with a Larry Price lead off single up the middle and Spagnola's speed to beat out a bunt for an infield single, to put runners on second and first for WWU. Stewart would give himself up, laying down a sacrifice bunt moving the runners up 90 feet and put the tying run on third base with one out for Dustin Kremer. The Owls tied the game up at 3-3 with a sacrifice fly to center from the bat of Kremer, however, the Bulldogs were able to hold the Owls to just one run, which meant we were off the extra innings at Owls Field.
 
As the next two innings became a pitching and defense dual, then in the bottom of the tenth, the Owls finally broke through, as Grant Garrett drew a walk, while Drew May came in to pinch run for Garrett at first base. A wild pitch from Benedictine would move May to second base, Price would hit a grounder to short stop on a fielders choice and with a Bulldog error May was now standing just 90 feet away from home plate. Spagnola, who had been red hot all afternoon, collected his fifth hit and the game winning RBI with a single in between short and third, giving the Owls the 4-3 come from behind, extra inning game one victory over the Bulldogs.
 
Spagnola, had an impressive game one, going 5-for-6 from the plate, plating the game winning RBI and stealing three bases. Stewart, continued his hit streak by collecting three hits and plating a RBI, while Stephen Kohler went 2-for-3 from the plate. Price, Javier Ledesma and Kremer also each recorded a hit, as the Owls out hit the Bulldogs 13-9.
 
On the mound, Dylan Hastings who came in to relieve Ball, pitched 2.2 key innings for WWU, the senior didn't give up a single run, only allowed one hit and recorded five strikeouts to nab the win.
 
Game Two William Woods 5 Benedictine University 2
 
In game two it was the Owls who set the pace, by scoring two runs off three hits in the bottom of the first, off another Kremer sacrifice fly and an Austin Clapp single through the five-six hole, scoring Stewart giving the Owls the early 2-0 lead.
 
WWU would add three more runs to its lead in the bottom of the third, off four hits, however, the Bulldogs responded by getting one of those runs back in the top of the fourth and then added its second run in the sixth, with its second solo home run on the day.
 
Despite valiant effort from Benedictine, that would be as close as the Bulldogs would come within the Owls, as WWU defense and bullpen remained solid to go on and take game two with the 5-2 victory.
 
The Owls outhit BU 10-4, as 8-of-9 of WWU starters recorded a hit, while Stewart and Price led the way with a pair of hits. Kremer and Clapp each knocked in two RBI's, as Kohler recorded the other RBI. Senior pitcher, Ryan Yuengel collected the win, as he gave up one run, on two hits, while striking out four batters in his 2,1 innings of work on the day.
 
After the conclusion of the second game, the Owls honored its twelve seniors on the year, and with the sweep on the day, there is now a three-way tie in the AMC standings for second place, between Lyon College, Missouri Baptist University and WWU, as all three teams are dead lock with a conference record of 15-6.
 
The Owls and Bulldogs will conclude the weekend series tomorrow with a rescheduled 11:00 a.m. game start, out at Owls Field.
 
Fans check back on wwuowls.com for a full recap and score of game three of this weekend's series.

Tweet ##Owls_BB