Box Score FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball team's bats were kept quiet by No. 17 Freed-Hardeman University on Friday afternoon. The Owls only collected two hits in the entire games as they fell, 9-0, to the Lions.
 
The Owls and Lions return to Owl Field Saturday, March 26 when they square off in a doubleheader. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. The first game is set for a seven inning game, with game two set to be a nine inning game.
 
Game Flow
After a scoreless first inning, the Lions broke the scoreless tie in the top of the second inning. Houston Looser reached on a hit by pitch and stole second. He advanced to third on a ground out. With one out and a runner on third, Darcy Moore hit a sacrifice fly scoring Looser and putting the Lions ahead, 1-0.
 
Freed-Hardeman extended its lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Looser doubled down the left field line and Griffin Siebert followed with another double putting the Lions ahead 2-0.
 
Hits were few and far between for the Owls as Freed-Hardeman's starter, Brando Guske, kept the Owls off balance all night. On the season, Guske is only allowing opponents to hit .186 on the season. With two outs, Patrick Dillion collected the first hit for the Owls in the bottom of the fourth inning. However, that was all the Owls would get as the inning came to an end with WWU next hitter.
 
William Woods looked to get something going in the bottom of the fifth inning. Guske hit the first batter of the inning and recorded a fielder's choice. Tanner Wetrich came up to bat and was the second Owl to get hit by a pitch in the inning. With two runners on, Alex St. Pierre hit into a fielder's choice putting runners on the corner. St. Pierre proceeded to steal second base and when the catcher made the throw, Tyler Bracht, who was running for Dakota Smith, broke for home, however, the Lions pitcher caught the ball and got Bracht caught breaking for home and he was tagged out ending the inning.
 
The Lions added to its lead in the top of the sixth inning as the lead grew to 4-0. The Owls put two runners on base in the bottom of the inning as Larry Price walked and Ryan Phillips collected the second hit for the Owls, however, that would be all the Owls would get in the inning.
 
Guske kept the Owls bats quiet the remainder of the contest, as they did not get another hit the rest of the contest. The Lions added five more runs in the contest and won game one of the series, 5-0.
 
By the Numbers
2 – The Owls only collected two hits in the contest
1 – Ryan Phillips and Patrick Dillon collected the only hits for the Owls
10 – The Lions recorded 10 strike outs in the game
3 – William Woods had three batters hit by a pitch
5 – The Owls struck out five Lions in the contest
1 – The Owls stole one base in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Jacob Guilianelli, 5 IP, 6H, 2R (2 ER), 0BB, 4K's
FHU – Brandon Guske, 9 IP, 2H, 0R (0 ER), 1BB, 10K's