JOPLIN, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball team dropped both contest on the first day of the Joplin Tournament. WWU was defeated by William Penn, 10-0, and then dropped game two, 3-1, to Graceland.
 
WWU returns to action on Saturday, February 18th when they play, Robert Morris University (Ill.) at 11 a.m. and Doane College at 4 p.m.
 
WWU vs. William Penn
Game Flow
William Woods struggled offensively against William Penn University as the Owls did not collect a hit in the contest. After the Owls put one on, by a hit by pitch, the Owls were retired. In the Statesman's first at-bats, William Penn hit the Owls starter hard as they gave up six runs on eight hits as they took advantage of two Owls errors.
 
The game remained 6-0 until the bottom of the third inning. In the bottom of the third, the Owls pitchers gave up two more runs and after three complete innings the Owls trailed 8-0.
 
William Woods looked as if they might get something going as Josh Nicol drew a walk in the top of the fifth inning but he was retired and the inning ended when the next batter hit into a double play.
 
The Statesmen scored two more runs in the fifth taking a 10-0 lead over the Owls and after five complete innings, WWU trailed 10-0.
 
WWU continued to try to battle back but in the sixth and seventh innings, the Owls went down in order, dropping the first game of the Joplin Tournament, 10-0, to William Penn.
 
By the Numbers
0 – The Owls did not get a hit in the first game of the day
4 – WWU pitching staff struck out four batters
1 – William Woods drew one walk in the contest
4 – WWU struck out four times against Felipe Hernandez
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Ryan Furtney, 1/3 IP, 7H, 6R (6ER), 0BB, 0Ks
WPU – Felipe Hernandez, 7IP, 0H, 0R (0ER), 1BB, 4Ks
 
WWU vs. Graceland
Game Flow
The Owls and Yellow Jackets were locked in a pitchers' duel as neither offense could get anything going early in the contest. Both starters were sitting each other down in order and after two innings of play, neither team had a hit.
 
Graceland put the first runner on base with a walk in the third, however, he was stranded as the next three hitters were retired.
 
WWU's offense looked as if it was coming to life in the bottom of the third. With one out, Nolan Aherin singled and Matt Priest reached on an error putting two runners on. Ryan Phillips was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. The Owls lone run of the contest came into score on an infield single by Patrick Dillon. With the bases still loaded, the Owls Tyler Cunningham flew out to right field and on the play Matt Priest tried to tag up and score but was thrown out at the play. After three innings, WWU led 1-0.
 
Chase Feucht continued to shut down the Yellow Jacket hitters. With one out, he issued his second walk of the contest but he did not advance from first as the next two were retired. Feucht continued to keep the Yellow Jackets bats quiet as he retired the first two hitters of the fifth inning. Andrew Maxson doubled down the left field line but the next hitter was retired ending the inning.
 
The Owls looked like they would extend the lead in the fifth inning. With one out and two runners on, Dillon hit into a fielder's choice, where everyone moved up a base on a Graceland error. With the bases loaded, the Owls next two hitters were retired and the Owls led 1-0, after five innings of play.
 
Feucht continued to deal as he struck out the first two batters in the sixth and got the next to fly out. Feucht's day was done after the sixth and the Owls led 1-0.
 
Leading by one, in the top of the seventh, Graceland's bats came to life. With two runners on, Chris Perez doubled to right field scoring both runners on base and the Yellow Jackets took the lead, 2-1. Graceland would tack on one more and lead 3-1 going to the bottom of the seventh.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Priest singled with one out. The next batter up was retired and Dillon singled moving Priest up a base with two outs, however, the inning came to an end on the next hitter was retired on a ground out and the Owls were defeated, 3-1, to Graceland.
 
By the Numbers
8 – Chase Feucht struck out eight Yellow Jackets in the Owls second game
6 – WWU collected six hits in the game
1 – William Woods scored one run in the contest
2 – Patrick Dillon and Nolan Aherin collected two hits in the contest
1 – Patrick Dillon collected one RBI in the contest
4 – Four Owls had a hit in the loss to Graceland
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Chase Feucht, 6 IP, 1 H, 0R (0 ER), 2BB's, 8K's
GU – Dakota Graham, 7 IP, 6 H, 1R (0 ER), 0BB's, 4K's