FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball team split its doubleheader with Hannibal-LaGrange University on Saturday afternoon. The Owls dropped game one, 8-7 before coming back to win the night cap, 12-3.
 
WWU close out the series with Hannibal-LaGrange University on Sunday, March 18th. First-pitch is set for 4 p.m.
 
Game One
Game Flow
The Trojans came out the gate in the top of the first when they scored three runs. In the inning, Heriberto Wyatt picked up two RBIs with a single to center field putting Trojans ahead, 3-0.
 
The Trojans would add two more runs in the top of the third and fourth innings. Nick Diaz De Leon came into score on a Tim Gurnow single putting the Trojans ahead 4-0. The lead went to 5-0 in the fourth when Lane Thebeau singled home a run.
 
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Owls offense looked to start clicking. Nolan Aherin woke up the offense with a leadoff single and Patrick Dillon would join him on the bases after a walk. Aherin and Dillon advanced to second and third after a fly out by Glen DesBouillons. Aherin scored off a Zach Smith single. Dillon later crossed the plate after a Trojan error putting the Owls down 5-2.
 
The top of the fifth brought about one more run extending the Trojan lead to four, 6-2. In the frame, Wyatt drove in another run for the Trojans.
 
The Owls answered back in the bottom of the fifth scoring three when Connor Poulson and Brian Granton ledoff with back to back singles. Tyler Cunningham later joined them on the base path after a walk. Granton came into score on a sac fly by Aherin. Patrick Dillon followed with a triple to right center scoring two more putting the Owls down 6-5.
 
Again, the Trojans answered the Owls runs with a runs of their own. They scored two runs, one in the sixth and one in the seventh and the Trojans led 8-5 heading to the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Owls were determined in the bottom of the seventh where their last at bat gave fans hope. Brian Granton and Frankie Valle hit back to back doubles scoring one putting the Owls down two, 8-6. The Owls then loaded the bases after a walk, and a fielder's choice. Zach Smith reached on a walk, scoring one, and the Owls trailed by one, 8-7. WWU could not get the tying run across the plate and dropped game one, 8-7.
 
By the Numbers
7 – The Owls scored seven runs in the first game
11 – WWU pounded out 11 hits in game one
3 – William Woods had three extra base hits
4 – Brian Granton led the Owls with four hits
6 – Six different Owls had a hit in the game
5 – WWU combined to score five runs in the fourth and fifth innings
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Dany Paradis-Giroux, 5 IP, 10H, 6R (5ER), 1BBs, 4Ks
HLGU – Graysan Peneston, 6 IP, 11H, 7R (6ER), 2BBs, 0Ks
 
Game Two
Game Flow
After a scoreless first inning, the Owls offense came alive in the second inning when they scored five runs in the bottom of the second. Zach Smith set the mood with a leadoff homerun, and Trevor Garriott later followed with his own solo shot, putting the Owls ahead 2-0. Jordan Smith then came up and smacked a double followed by Granton who hit a single to keep the train moving, scoring Smith and growing the Owls lead to, 3-0. Tyler Cunningham would close out their at bat with a two-run homerun, giving the Owls a lead, 5-0.
 
The Trojans came back in the top of the third and the fourth to cut the lead to 5-3. In the third inning Seth Brown had a two run RBI double helping the Trojans. In the fourth Nelson Martinez had an RBI single and the Owls lead was down to two, 5-3.
 
The Owls answered back in the bottom of the fourth with two more runs and tacking on one more in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 8-3. In the fourth inning, Frankie Valle had an RBI double and later in the inning Nolan Aherin added his own RBI double. Granton picked up an RBI single in the fifth moving the Owls lead to 8-3.
 
It was not until the bottom of the seventh when the Owls would score four more runs and growing the lead to 12-3. Jordan Smith recorded a two run RBI single and Granton and Valley each drove in a run with a double.
 
The Trojans offense looked to wake up in the top of the eighth inning when they loaded the bases. However, the Owls got Chet Merritt to ground into a fielders' choice for the first out of the inning. The next batter grounded into a double play ending the threat.
 
After the Owls went down in the eighth inning, the Trojans put its first two runners on. After an out, the Trojans loaded the bases with a hit by pitch. Chase Putnam settled down for the Owls striking the next two out and the Owls came away with a 12-3 victory.
 
By the Numbers
12 – The Owls offense scored 12 runs in game two
18 – WWU pounded out 18 hits in the game
10 – William Woods pitching staff recorded 10 strikeouts
7 – Ryan Furtney struck out seven in the contest
3 – Brian Granton drove in three runs for the Owls
8 – Eight different Owls had a hit in the contest
7 – WWU had seven doubles in the game
3 – The Owls hit three home runs in game two
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Ryan Furtney, 6 IP, 5H, 3R (3ER), 2BBs, 7Ks
HLGU – Dan Pearson, 4 IP, 10H, 7R (5ER), 1BBs, 1K