FULTON, Mo. – For the 11th straight season, the William Woods University Baseball team has won 20 or more wins as the Owls defeated Lindenwood University-Belleville, 7-4, on Friday afternoon at Owl Field.
 
John Cavness picked up his sixth win of the season as he pitched six innings allowing seven hits and four earned runs in the game. He struck out four.
 
Jordan Dey, Grant Garrett and Jansen Smith led the Owls with two hits apiece in the contest. Garrett led the team driving in two runs in the contest.
 
The Owls return to action Saturday, April 9th when they host Lindenwood-Belleville in a doubleheader at Owl Field. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. Between the games, the Owls will honor the 11 seniors of this year's team.
 
Game Flow
The Owls offense got off to a fast start as they scored four runs in the first inning. With one out, Nolan Aherin singled and Ryan Phillips was hit by a pitch. Dey followed with a single to center field to load the bases. Patrick Dillion followed when he hit a ground ball to the pitcher, and on the paly Nick Hammel threw the ball to the backstop allowing Nolan Aherin to score. After a strikeout, the Owls had the bases loaded with two outs, and Grant Garrett followed with a two run single to center field. On Grant Garrett's play, Jordan Evans tried to throw out Garrett going to second base but the throw got away and Dillion came around to score.
 
The Lynx answered back in the second inning as they got to starter, John Cavness. LU-B scored four runs on four hits tying the game at 4-4. With two runners on, Evans tripled won the right field line, scoring two. Cory Lubinski doubled to left-center scoring one. Lubinski came into score on a Chuck Terron single.
 
William Woods took the lead back in the third inning. Dey led off the inning as he took the 1-2 offering over the left field fence for his fifth home run of the season putting the Owls ahead, 5-4. Later in the inning, with runners on the corner and two outs, it looked like Larry Price was picked off and on the play, Matt Priest stole home base prior to Price getting tagged off. After the third, the Owls lead, 6-4. After regaining the lead, the Owls led the rest of the contest.
 
WWU grew its lead to 7-4 in the fifth inning. With one out, Dillion was advanced to third on a single to right center by Jansen Smith. Garrett drew a walk to load the bases. Larry Price came up and hit into a fielder's choice, scoring Dillion and growing the lead to 7-4.
 
After the sixth, the Owls went to the bullpen and William Woods relievers pitched three innings and did not allow a Lynx player to reach bat. Blake Novack came in, in the top of the ninth inning and shut the door earning the first save of the season. The Owls came away with a 7-4 victory.
 
By the Numbers
7 – The Owls collected seven hits in the contest
6 – William Woods pitchers struck out six Lynx in the game
3 – WWU drew five walks in the contest
2 – The Owls Jordan Dey, Jansen Smith and Grant Garrett collected two hits apiece today
1 – Jordan Dey hit one home run on the contest
20 – For the 11th straight season, the Owls have won 20 or more games
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – John Cavness, 6 IP, 7H, 4R (4 ER), 3BB's, 4K's
LU-B – Nick Hummel, 6 IP, 6H, 7R (5 ER), 3BB's, 3K's