ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball team raced out to a 4-0 lead but the sixth inning came back to haunt the Owls as Harris-Stowe State University scored six runs in the inning. WWU tied the game in the eighth but the Hornets answered back and the Owls dropped the contest, 8-6, to the Hornets.
 
WWU returns to action on Wednesday, April 12th when they travel to Kansas City, Missouri to face Avila University in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
 
Game Flow
WWU's offense came out in the first inning putting two runners on base with one out. However, the next two Owls were retired and the Owls could not get a runner across the plate in the first inning.
 
Owls starter Ryan Phillips came out dealing as he retired the first six Hornets hitters of the contest. Harris-Stowe got its first hit in the bottom of the third inning, when Greg Carter singled. That would get in the inning. After a fly out, Carter was thrown out trying to steal second and Tyler Schatz grounded out to end the inning.
 
In the top of the third inning, the Owls got the first run across the inning. With one out, Nolan Aherin doubled to right field. He moved to third when Ryan Phillips flied out to center field. Aherin came into score on a Tyler Cunningham double to right center putting the Owls ahead, 1-0.
 
WWU added to its lead in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Tyler Bracht singled to left center. Bracht came into score on a triple by Neal Aherin putting the Owls ahead, 2-0. WWU grew the lead to 3-0, after a sacrifice fly by Anthony Davison.
 
The Owls added to its lead in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on first and third, Alex St. Pierre reached base on a fielder's choice scoring one and putting the Owls ahead, 4-0. Later in the inning, the Owls had runners on the corners but could not get another run across.
 
The Hornets got to Owls starter Phillips in the bottom of the sixth inning. Harris-Stowe only collected one hit for the first five innings of the contest but strung hits together in the sixth. In the sixth inning, the Hornets collected six runs on five hits in the inning. Dylan Yankle and Zach Jones both hit home runs in the innings and after the sixth inning the Owls trailed 6-4.
 
After a scoreless seventh, the Owls bats came back to life in the eighth inning. Bracht led off the inning with a single to left center. Konrad Kempter, who was pinch hitting, drew a walk putting two runs on. Jansen Smith came up to pinch hit and singled to right scoring one run. Later in the inning, Alex St. Pierre hit a sacrifice fly tying the game at 6-6. With two outs, the Owls had the go ahead run third base and the Owls could not get the run across and went to the bottom of the eighth inning tied at 6-6.
 
After tying the game at 6-6, Harris-Stowe answered back in the bottom of the eighth inning. In the bottom of the eighth, the Hornets scored two more runs on three hits taking an 8-6 lead over the Owls.
 
Coming down to its final three outs of the contest, the first batter was retired and Glen DesBouillons followed with a double to left. He stole third base but was stranded on third as the next two Owls were retired and the Owls dropped the contest, 8-6, to Harris-Stowe.
 
By the Numbers
14 – The Owls had 14 hits in the contest
8 – The Hornets scored eight runs off the Owls in the final game of the series
4 – WWU hit four doubles in the contest
3 – Tyler Bracht led the Owls with three hits in the contest
10 – Ten different Owls had a hit in the contest
2 – Alex St. Pierre drove in two runs in the contest
6 – WWU scored six runs in the contest
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Ryan Phillips, 8 IP, 9H, 8R (8ER), 0BBs, 5Ks
HSSU – Dion Herron, 7 IP, 12H, 6R (5ER), 2BBs, 1K