FULTON, Mo. – William Woods University baseball team dropped its non-conference contest, 8-4, to Central Methodist University on Wednesday evening. With a tie game in the top of the seventh inning DeAndre Smith hit a go-ahead home run putting the Eagles ahead for good.
 
The Owls return to action on Friday, March 17 when they travel to Conway, Arkansas to face Central Baptist College in a doubleheader. First-pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Game Flow
Both the Eagles and Owls starting pitchers were now allowing either teams offenses to get anything going in the first or second innings but in the top of the third inning, Central Methodist broke the scoreless tie. With a runner on third and one out, the Owls brought the infield in and Dustyn Macaluso lifted a single over the infielders' head scoring one and putting the Eagles ahead, 1-0.
 
Central Methodist grew its lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning. After Fernando Villegas reached on a walk, he advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Dany Paradis-Giroux looked as if he would strand the runner on second as he got Brandon Alcala to pop out to second base. However, Jared Johnson singled home a run putting the Eagles ahead 2-0.
 
The Owls offense looked to click to life in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs, and nobody on base, Nolan Aherin singled through the left side of the infield. Ryan Phillips followed by taking the first pitch of the at-bat out for a homerun and tying the game at 2-2.
 
Konrad Kemper looked to get another two-out rally started in the bottom of the sixth inning as he hit a single but was out trying to stretch it into a double.
 
Central Methodist broke the 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh inning. With an 0-1 count, DeAndre Smith hit a home run to right field putting the Eagles ahead. Central Methodist would not trail again after the home run as they built its lead in the top of the eighth inning. CMU put up five runs on four hits and took advantage of one Owls error in the eighth and led 8-2.
 
William Woods looked as if it would chip away in the bottom of the eighth inning. With a runner on second, DesBouillons hit a double to left center scoring one for the Owls. Kempter followed with a walk and Matt Priest singled loading the bases for the Owls with two outs. Alex St. Pierre came up and single home one, but Priest was caught rounding the base to far and was tagged out at second base ending the inning.
 
After a 1,2,3 inning by Ethan O'Keefe in the top of the ninth the Owls had one more chance to tie the game. It got off to a good start as Nolan Aherin drew a walk, however, the next three Owls were retired and the Owls were defeated by Central Methodist, 8-4.
 
By the Numbers
13 – WWU collected 13 hits in the contest
5 – The Owls had five players collected two hits in the contest
6 – William Woods pitching struck out six Eagles in the contest
1 – Glen DesBouillions hit one double in the contest
1 – Ryan Phillips hit one home run against Central Methodist
2 – Phillips drove in two runs in the contest
5 – WWU allowed the Eagles to score five runs in the eighth inning
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Dany Paradis-Giroux, 5 IP, 4H, 2R (2ER), 2BBs, 1K
CMU – Cole Nonweiler, 5 IP, 7H, 2R (2ER), 0BBs, 3Ks