BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – For the second straight day, the William Woods University baseball team and Baker University split its doubleheader. The Wildcats took game one, 6-4, before the Owls rebounded taking game two, 3-2.
 
Ryan Phillips led the Owls at the plate over the doubleheader as he was 3-for-6. Tyler Cunningham followed going 2-for-5. Cunningham and Jalen Poindexter both hit a home run on the day. Besides leading the Owls at the plate, Phillips came out and pitched a complete game in game two picking up the win for the Owls.
 
WWU returns to action on Friday, February 17th when they travel to Joplin, Missouri to face William Penn University at 12 p.m. The Owls also play Graceland University on Friday at 2:30 p.m. in Joplin.
 
Game One
Game Flow
William Woods offense got off to a quick start on Sunday afternoon. With one on and two outs, Jalen Poindexter came up the plate and took a first pitch ball. On the second pitch, he saw he hit a two-run home run to left field putting the Owls head 2-0.
 
Baker cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first inning. With runners on the corner and two outs, the Wildcats pulled a double steal and both runner were safe and the Owls lead was down to one, 2-1.
 
WWU added its third run of the contest in the top of the third inning. Leading off the inning for the Owls was Tyler Cunningham. After taking a ball on the first pitch, he drove the second pitch over the right field wall putting the Owls ahead, 3-1.
 
The game remained 3-1, in favor of the Owls until the bottom of the fourth inning. Baker jumped on the Owls starter in the inning. The Wildcats scored five runs on six hits taking a 6-3 lead over WWU. Kenny Delaquila collected two RBI in the inning while, Brian Wircenske also had a RBI hit.
 
The Owls trailed 6-3 heading to the top of the seventh inning and with one out Jalen Poindexter got hit by a pitch putting an Owl on base. The Owls scored one when Josh Nicol reached on an error but that is all the Owls would get and they would drop game one, 6-4.
 
By the Numbers
2 – WWU hit two home runs in the contest
8 – The Owls collected eight hits in the contest
4 – William Woods scored four runs in the first game of the doubleheader
9 – WWU struck out nine Baker hitters
2 – WWU had two batters hit by a pitch
2 – Jalen Poindexter collected two RBI in the contest
8 – William Woods had eight players collect a hit
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Dany Paradis-Giroux, 3.1 IP, 5H, 4R (4ER), 2BB's, 4K's
Baker – Gage Kiesling, 3.2 IP, 7H, 3R (3ER), 2BB's, 1K
 
Game Two
Game Flow
For the first time in the series, Baker struck first in the second game of the doubleheader. In the bottom of the second inning, Baker's Matt Stuart doubled to left center. He came into score on the very next batter when Marcus Jones singled to right center putting the Wildcats ahead, 1-0.
 
William Woods answered right back and tied the contest at 1-1 in the top of the third inning. With two runners on base, Cunningham singled through the hole at shortstop to load the bases for the Owls. The Owls run came into score when Poindexter grounded into a double play. The Owls had a runner on third and two outs but could not take the lead as the next hitter was retired.
 
The Wildcats regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Matt Stuart reached on a WWU error, he moved to second when Marcus Jones was hit by a pitch. The bases were loaded for the Wildcats after Jordan David singled to right field. An RBI single by Jamaal Rashard scored one, putting Baker back on top, 2-1.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, the Owls answered back. With a runner on first and two outs, Cunningham drew a walk putting two runners on for the Owls. With two on, Poindexter drove home two with a double to deep left field, which gave the Owls the lead, 3-2.
 
Baker's offense could not get anything going against Owls starter Phillips in the fifth or sixth innings. Heading to the bottom of the seventh inning the Owls led, 3-2. Phillips was dialed in as he struck out Rashad and got Brian Wirchenske to line out before the Wildcats started a two-out rally.
 
Damon Nolan drew the only walk of the contest off Phillips to get the Wildcats started. The next batter, reached on a WWU error putting runners on the corners. Phillips than hit Dylan Carrender to load the bases with two outs. The winning run was on second base, Phillips settled down getting Cody Gregory to pop out to end the game. The Owls took game two, 3-2. Phillips pitched a complete game to earn his first win of the season.
 
By the Numbers
10 – Ryan Phillips struck out 10 Wildcats in game two
2 – WWU had two extra base hits in the contest
4 – The Owls drew four walks in game two
2 – Ryan Phillips led the Owls with two hits
7 – Seven different Owls collected a hit in game two
2 – Jalen Poindexter drove home two runs in the contest
1 – Alex St. Pierre had one stolen base in the contest
2 – WWU committed two errors in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Ryan Phillips, 7 IP, 7H, 2R (1ER), 1BB, 10K's
Baker – Kenny Delaquila, 5 IP, 6H, 3R (3ER), 2BB's, 7K's