HENDERSON, Tenn. – The William Woods University baseball team put together a five run ninth inning rally in Friday's opening game of the series to No. 8 Freed-Hardeman University, but the rally came up short. The Owls fell 9-7, bringing them to 7-3 on the season.
 
FHU took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on a three-run home run over center field. 
 
In the top of the second, WWU had a run walked in to put them on the board, 3-1. The Owls left three runners stranded as FHU pitched the final out.
 
FHU added two in the fourth on a two RBI single and one in the fifth on a leadoff home run. They took an 8-1 lead in the seventh following two RBI singles. 
 
WWU added a second run in the top of the eighth. Marcus Gonzalez led off the inning with a double to left field and scored on Alex Owens' RBI ground out. 
 
FHU countered with their ninth run in the bottom of the eighth on an error to take a 9-2 lead.
 
The Owls rallied in the top of the ninth to score five runs, falling just short after closing the gap to 9-7. Tim Redford and Trevor Garriott scored on Tyklen Salmons' double to deep right-center after being walked and hit by a pitch. After the Owls recorded their second out, Gonzalez was walked to put two runners on. Wallace hit a three-run bomb over the right-center field fence to close the gap to 9-7, but FHU grabbed the final out with a strikeout to end the game. 
 
Wallace went 3-for-5 from the plate with a double, a home run, a run scored and three RBI.
 
Tristan Steffens (3-1) was credited with the loss. He pitched 3.2 innings and struck out four.
 
The Owls continue their three-game series with No. 8 FHU on Saturday, Feb. 22, starting at noon. The games will be played at Chester County High School.