FULTON, Mo. – Behind the arm of Ryan Phillips, the William Woods University baseball team took the third game of the three game set. The Owls defeated Missouri Baptist University, 2-1, on Friday afternoon. With the win, the Owls won the series, 2-1.
 
WWU returns to action on Tuesday, March 14th when they host Central Methodist University at Owl Field. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.  
 
Game Flow
In the last game of the series, Owls senior Ryan Phillips get the start on the mound. Phillips knocked out the first three of the four Spartans looking. The Owls would struggle in the bottom of the first, not being able to execute.
 
Phillips would continue to mow through the Spartans lineup striking out four in the first four innings.
 
The Owls would finally get something going in the bottom of the fourth when Tyler Cunningham sparked the offense with a single and teammate Alex St. Pierre collected an RBI groundout, scoring Cunningham and putting the Owls ahead 1-0.
 
Phillips added three more strikeouts until the Owls score again in the bottom of the sixth. Nolan Aherin reached on a hard ground ball that squeaked in on the left field line and Phillips would execute a sacrifice bunt, advancing Aherin. Cunningham collected a hit up the middle, and score Aherin, putting the Owls ahead, 2-0.
 
The Spartans generated a run in the top of the seventh with two hits and the help of two Owl errors. Tommy Nawa singled to left and Austin Rieman scored when the Owls misplayed the grounder in the outfield cutting the Owls lead down to one, 2-1.
 
The Spartans would threaten in the top of the eight and loaded the bases with two outs. Phillips did not let another run across the board as he got Rieman to fly out to shallow left center ending the inning.
 
Phillips would come back in the top of the ninth, and he struck out the first two batters of the inning. Phillips got Aaron Collazo to ground out to third base to end the inning, and the Owls defeated the Spartans, 2-1.
 
By the Numbers
10 – For the second straight contest, Ryan Phillips recorded double-figure strikeouts
2 – WWU scored two runs to defeat the Spartans
6 – The Owls had six hits in the victory
4 – William Woods committed four errors in the contest
2 – Glen DesBouillons and Tyler Cunningham led the Owls with two hits each
1 – Alex St. Pierre and Cunningham drove in a run each for the Owls
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Ryan Phillips, 9 IP, 6H, 1R (0ER), 2BBs, 10Ks
MBU – Patrick Boyle, 6 IP, 6H, 2R (2ER), 2BBs, 5Ks