FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University baseball team split with Central Baptist College Friday afternoon to open the three-game series. The Owls grabbed a 4-1 win to open the series. They took a late lead over CBC in game two but lost it in the top of the ninth to fall 5-4.
The Owls move to 8-9 on the season with a 1-7 conference mark.
They close out the three-game series with a single nine inning game on Saturday, March 7, starting at noon.
Game One
After CBC took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a RBI triple, the Owls' defense held CBC to just one hit over the next four innings.
The Owls were held to just one hit through the first four innings, but in the bottom of the fifth,
Jordan Smith smashed a two run bomb over the right field fence to put the Owls up 2-1.
In the top of the sixth, CBC loaded the bases with two outs.
Davin Marcomb came to the mound in relief and struck out his first batter faced, keeping the Owls with a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh.
Smith laced a two RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 4-1.
The Owls closed out the game with two diving catches to win their first conference game.
Smith drove in all four runs while going 3-for-4 from the plate with a home run.
Tim Redford went 2-for-3 from the plate.
Tristan Steffens pitched the win. He tossed 5.1 innings, allowed just one run while striking out four.
Marcomb earned his fifth save of the game as he pitched 1.1 innings in relief. He struck out one while allowing no hits.
Game Two
The first three innings went quickly as both teams managed just one hit.
In the top of the fourth, CBC hit the inside of the right field foul post for a home run. They added a second run on a throwing error later in the inning to take a 2-0 lead.
Bryson Matthews pinch hit for
Eric Rothermich and placed a single just over second base following an out in the bottom of the eighth. Following a wild throw from the pitcher,
Eric Rothermich advanced to second. CBC threw back-to-back walks on one out to load the bases.
Marcus Gonzalez hit an RBI single to right field to plate the Owls' first run of the game. With bases still loaded,
Easton Wallace came up to the plate. Two errors on Wallace's at bat brought home three runs to put the Owls up 4-2.
In the bottom of the inning, a two-out error gave CBC their second runner. The first scored on a single to cut the game to 4-3, and a double down the left field line allowed CBC to plate two runs and take a 5-4 lead.
The Owls were held to three up, three down in the bottom of the inning, ending the game with a 5-4 loss.
The Owls were held to just four hits on the game.
Logan Bexton worked 8.0 innings. He struck out six while allowing just five hits and one earned run. Marcomb (0-1) came in as relief and was credited with the loss as three unearned runs were plated.
Allan Brown closed out the game with the final out.
