MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The William Woods University baseball team opened its 2016 season with a doubleheader split with Bethel University (Tenn.) on Friday afternoon. The Owls dropped game one, 7-4, but bounced back taking game two, 15-3.
 
The game two victory for William Woods gave first year Head Coach Craig McAndrews his first collegiate victory. One the day, Jordan Dey hit .600, as he was 3-for-5.  
 
Game One
Game Flow
William Woods found themselves down early in the first game of the doubleheader as Bethel scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Wildcats extended their lead to 4-0 after an RBI single by Zachary Crocker.
 
The Owls bats started the game off cold, as they only collected one hit through five innings, but the bats slowly came to life in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Neal Aherin hit into a fielder's choice that scored Alex St. Pierre. After a walk to load the bases, Matt Priest delivered a bases clearing 3-run RBI triple tying the game at 4-4.

Bethel answered back for three runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth inning taking a 7-4 lead. The Owls went down in order in order in the top of the seventh inning to fall, 7-4.
 
By The Numbers
3 – Number of hits the Owls got in game one
3 – Matt Priest drove in three runs on a triple in the sixth inning
3 – Number of Owls who collected a hit
4 – Runs William Woods scored in the sixth inning
9 – William Woods pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts in game one

Game One Starters Lines
WWU – John Cavness – 4.2, 5H, 4R (4ER), 5K's
Bethel – Justin Roberts – 5.2, 2H, 3R (3ER), 6K's

Game Two
Game Flow
The Owls used the big inning early and often in game two against Bethel as William Woods put up four runs in the second inning and nine runs in the fourth inning. In the fourth inning the Owls scored the nine runs on six hits and took advantage of two Wildcat errors.

On the mound, Ryan Phillips kept the Wildcat's offense off balance in his six innings of work. Phillips struck out six and scattered ten hits and only allowed three earned runs in the contest.
 
By The Numbers
15 – Ties the most runs the Owls scored in a contest last season
12 – Number of hits the Owls collected in game two
9 – The number of runs the Owls scored in the fourth inning of game two
7 – The Owls drew seven walks in game two
5 – Runs driven in by Dakota Smith in game two
3 – The number of Owls who had multiple hits in game two
 
Game Two Starters Lines
WWU – Ryan Phillips – 6.0, 10H, 3R (3ER), 6K's
Bethel – John Michael Spoon – 3.2, 5H, 9R (9ER), 5K's
 
Next Contest
The Owls return to action tomorrow, Feb. 6 for a doubleheader against Bethel University. First-pitch is set for 12 p.m.