KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball let an early lead slip away on Wednesday afternoon as Avila University defeated the Owls, 6-5.
 
Ryan Phillips led the way for the Owls as he was 3-for-5 on the day with one RBI. Drew May followed going 3-for-4. Patrick Dillion drove home two runs leading the Owls.
 
The Owls return to action on Friday, April 1st when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Ark. to face Williams Baptist College in American Midwest Conference action. Friday the Owls and Eagles will square off in a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls jumped out to an early lead as they scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Alex St. Pierre drew a walk and stole second base and Larry Price followed with a walk. Ryan Phillips collected his first hit of the game with a single to load the bases. St. Pierre scored the first run of the game on a Patrick Dillion fielder's choice. With runners on the corners, Zackary Sargert threw a wild pitch scoring Price from third base extending the Owls lead to 2-0. Later in the inning, Zach Smith singled to right field scoring one and growing the Owls lead to 3-0.
 
William Wood's three run lead did not last long as the Eagles battled back in the bottom of the first. With a runner on third and one out, Randy Keen drew a walk. With runners on the corners, Kyle Simmons stole home for the first run of the game for Avila. Keen came around to score the second run of the inning for Avila on a Dakota Smith error. After the first inning the Owls led, 3-2.
 
WWU scored its fourth run of the game in the top of the second. After the first two Owls were retired, Larry Price was hit by a pitch. After advancing to second base, Phillips singled home Price extending the lead to 4-2.
 
After setting the Eagles down in order in the second, Avila scored its third run in the third inning. Simmons doubled to center field to lead off the inning for the Eagles. After a groundout, Keen drove in Simmons cutting the Owls lead down to one, 4-3.
 
The game remained 4-3 until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Eagles took its first lead of the game as Avila scored three runs on three hits in the frame. After the fifth inning of play the Eagles led the Owls, 6-4.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, the Owls got one run back. With two outs, Price stole second base and Patrick Dillon followed with an RBI single putting the Owls down, 6-5.
 
After William Woods trimmed down the lead to one run, 6-5, both pitching staffs started shutting down each other's offense and neither team threatened to score again in the contest and the Owls were defeated by Avila, 6-5.
 
By the Numbers
10 – The Owls left 10 runners on base
10 – WWU collected 10 hits in the contest
8 – The Owls pitching staff struck out eight Eagles
7 – William Woods drew seven walks in the contest
5 – The Owls scored five runs in the game
4 – William Woods stole four bases as four different players recorded one steal
3 – Ryan Phillips led the Owls with three hits in the game
3 – Drew May collected three hits in the game
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Jesse Remington, 3 IP, 3H, 3R (3ER), 2BB's, 3K's
Avila – Zackary Sargert, .2 IP, 2H, 3R (3ER), 4BB's, 0K