JOPLIN, Mo. - Tyler Abney turned in a four-strikeout, 3.2 inning relief appearance for William Woods (5-2), allowing just three hits, but the Owls weren't able to finish off the comeback attempt against an undefeated Dakota State (6-0) squad, falling 9-4 on Friday.
Colby Caton had a solid day at the plate for Woods, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
Batting as the visiting team in the neutral site contest, Dakota State came in riding a wave of momentum after a 13-3 win. The Trojans scored four in the first inning and added singles in the second and third.
Caton shook things loose for the Owls in the bottom of the second with a single to center, advancing to second on a ground out by
Cade Irwin.
Matt Hanson drew a HBP to put a pair of runners on for
Sean Goings, who belted a two-out double to center. WWU threatened as another HBP to Tayler Hopkins and a walk to
Kamron Morriss loaded the bases, but the Owls left all three runners stranded.
DSU extended its lead to 9-2 in the top of the fourth before Abney came in and shut the Trojan offense down with a strikeout and a groundout in the middle infield.
Vincent Pyeatt turned a leadoff triple into a run for Woods in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 9-3, then Caton laced a double into left to start off the seventh with a threat for Woods. Irwin drove Caton in with a single, but the Owls couldn't continue the rally.
With temperatures falling, WWU's second game of the day was canceled. The Owls will take on William Penn University and Northwestern College to close out the weekend's action, with first pitch set for noon.
