ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball team dropped a pair of games to Missouri Baptist University on Friday afternoon. The Owls dropped game one, 7-6, before falling in game two, 9-3.
 
The Owls and Spartans conclude its three-game set tomorrow, April 28th. First pitch for the nine-inning game is set for 12 p.m.
 
Game One
Game Flow
The Owls jumped out to a quick start in game one of the doubleheader. With one out, Brian Granton was hit by a pitch. He went to second on a Spartans error and moved to third on a single by Tyler Cunningham, which loaded the bases. Zach Smith came up and grounded out scoring one for the Owls.
 
WWU added to its lead in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Tyler Cunningham hit a solo home run to right field putting the Owls ahead 2-0.
 
Owls starter Taran Oulton came out dealing as he only allowed two hits over the first two innings of action. However, he ran into trouble in the bottom of the third inning. The Spartans scored two runs, tying the game, on three hits. Brooks and Hernandez acme up with RBI hits in the inning.
 
William Wood regained the lead in the top of the fourth. Patrick Dillon doubled down the left field line. After a sac bunt moved him to third, he came into score on a throwing error by the Spartans. The run put the Owls ahead, 3-2.
 
The Spartans came back and took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Dean Doubled to center leading off the inning. Hagan followed with single putting runners on the corners. The tying run came into score on a sac fly and the next on a sac bunt. After four innings the Spartans lead, 4-3.
 
The game remained 4-3 until the bottom of the sixth inning. After a leadoff double, Dean went to third on a ground out. Castillo was intentionally walked and the fifth run of the game for MBU came into score on a balk.
 
Coming down to its final at bats, the Owls needed two runs to keep the game alive. Jordan Smith singled to start the game. Coming off the bench, Marquise Doherty tied the game up with a two-run home run to left field. Frankie Valle followed with a single and went to second on a wild pitch and third on an error. Nolan Aherin singled scoring Valle and the Owls led 6-5.
 
The Owls needed three outs to close out the game with a win, however the three outs would be hard for the Owl to get. Hernandez doubled and Washington singled and the Spartans had runners on the corners. Henderson singled to center, which scored the tying run. Schmidt then was hit by a pitch putting the winning run on third base. After a pitching change, the Spartans scored the game winning run on a walk and WWU dropped game one, 7-6.
 
By the Numbers
6 – WWU scored six runs in the first game of the doubleheader
8 – The Owls collected eight hits in the first game
2 – Tyler Cunningham led the Owls with two hits
2 – Marquise Doherty led the Owls with two RBIs
2 – William Woods hit two home runs in the game
6 – WWU left six runners on base
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Taran Oulton, 4 IP, 7H, 4R (3ER), 2BBs, 1K
MBU – Robby Brewseter, 5 IP, 4H, 3R (1ER), 0BBs, 5Ks
 
Game Two
Game Flow
Like game one, the Owls jumped on the Spartans in the first inning. With runners on first and second, Cunningham singled, which scored Granton and the Owls lead 1-0. WWU left two batters on base.
 
Missouri Baptist tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. Dean singled and then later stole second base. Castillo doubled to left scoring Dean and the game was tied at 1-1.
 
William Woods answered back and regained the lead in the top of the third. Granton doubled to left field and went to third on a ground out. Cunningham came up and drew a walk putting runners on the corners. Zach Smith followed with a single to right center and the Owls lead 2-1.
 
The Spartans broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning. Henderson doubled, and Dean followed with a two-run home run that put the Spartans ahead, 3-2. Castillo added a sac fly later in the inning. Later in the frame, Harp and Brooks hit solo home runs and Missouri Baptist led 6-2.
 
The game remained 6-2 until the top of the seventh inning. Nolan Aherin and Tyler Cunningham drew walks putting two on base. After a ground out advanced the runners up a base, Doherty singled to center scoring one and the Owls trailed 6-3.
 
Missouri Baptist extended its lead to 9-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two runners on base, Dean hit a three-run home run to left field growing the Spartans lead to 9-3.
 
The Owls looked to get things going in the top of the eighth inning. Glen DesBouillons was hit by a pitch, but the next two Owls were retired. Granton then single putting two on but they would be left stranded on base.
 
In the Owls final at bats, Cunningham doubled to right field to start off the inning. However, the next three Owls were retired and the Owls dropped game two, 9-3.
 
By the Numbers
16 – The Owls struck out 16 times in game two
7 – WWU collected seven hits in game two
3 – William Woods scored three runs
7 – Seven was the number of walks the Owls batters drew
2 – William Woods had two extra base hits
2 – Brian Granton, and Tyler Cunningham led the Owls with two hits each
3 – Three different Owls had an RBI in the game
 
Starting Pitcher Lines
WWU – Dany Paradis-Giroux, 3.2 IP, 10H, 6R (6ER), 0BBs, 4Ks
MBU – Austin Schiber, 4 IP, 4H, 2R (1ER), 4BBs, 8Ks