WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball team was defeated by NCAA Division II University of Central Missouri, 9-4, on Tuesday afternoon. The Owls collected nine hits in the contest.
 
Central Missouri entered the contest as the No. 3 ranked team in NCAA Division II and now have won eight in a row.
 
WWU had nine hits in the contest, led by Nolan Aherin and Josh Nicol, who both had two hits in the contest. On the mound, Tristan Steffens picked up the loss for the Owls as he pitched a third of an inning allowing two runs.
 
William Woods returns to action on Friday, March 3 when they play its first home game of the season against Freed-Hardeman University in American Midwest Conference action. Friday, will be a doubleheader and first pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game Flow
The Owls got to Central Missouri's starter in the top of the first inning. AS the first three Owls recorded a hit. Alex St. Pierre singled and Jansen Smith followed with an RBI double down the right field line putting the Owls ahead, 1-0. Tyler Cunningham followed with a single to left, scoring Smith and WWU found itself ahead 2-0.
 
Like the Owls, the Mules offense came out clicking and jumped on the Owls starter, Dany Paradis-Giroux in the bottom of the inning. After Central Missouri's leadoff hitter reached on an error, Matt Elliot drove him in on a single to right field. Travis Stroup collected an RBI double tying the game at 2-2. UCM took the lead after Stroup stole home later in the inning.
 
The game remained 3-2 in favor of Central Missouri until the top of the fourth inning. After Nolan Aherin recorded a leadoff single, Jalen Poindexter followed with a single to left center. After an out, Josh Nicol singled to second loading the bases for the Owls. Nolan Aherin tied the game when he came to score on a fielder's choice. Later in the inning Poindexter scored on a balk by Ross Juliana. After three and a half innings, WWU led 4-3.
 
Like the first inning, Central Missouri had an answer for the Owls. Connor Sorge doubled home a run tying the game at 4-4. The Mules were not done as Cole Hoover scored on a fielder's choice. The Mules also scored one on an Owls balk and after four innings WWU trailed 6-4.
 
The Mules added three insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sorge, and Justin Graff-Rowe collected RBI hits in the inning growing the Mules lead to 9-4.
 
After Central Missouri went to the bullpen in the third inning, the Owls offense cooled off as they only collected two more hits in the contest. WWU's Matt Priest and Nolan Aherin picked up hits for the Owls. WWU threatened after Aherin's hit in the eighth as he advanced to second on a wild pitch and Poindexter drew a walk. Aherin stole third base putting runners on the corners but both were stranded as the inning came to an end. The Owls could not get anything going in the ninth inning and would fall to No. 3 Central Missouri, 9-4.
  
By the Numbers
9 – WWU had nine hits as a team in the contest
4 – The Owls scored four runs in the contest
7 – William Woods had seven players collect at least one hit
3 – Jansen Smith, Tyler Cunningham, and Matt Priest collected one RBI in the contest
3 – WWU drew three walks in the contest
7 – The Owls left seven runners on base in the contest
3 – William Woods committed three errors in the loss
8 – WWU's pitching staff struck out eight Mules in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Dany Paradis-Giroux, 3 IP, 5H, 4R (3ER), 1BBs, 4K's
UCM – JJ Benes, 3.2 IP, 7H, 4R (4ER), 0BBs, 3K's