MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The Owls of William Woods University (2-2) used the big fly to even up the series with Blue Mountain Christian University (2-2) today. The Owls drove in six runs off the long ball on the day, as the offense combined for 17 hits. One the mound, the Woods excelled holding the Topper Offense to five runs on the day thanks to amazing performances from reliable right-hander Max Benton and newcomer AJ Vasquez.
"It was nice to see our guys bounce back after getting punched day 1 by a very talented Blue Mountain Christian program," said Cavness. "Today was a good look at what we would like to see our guys consistently doing. Quality pitching, timely hitting, guys on the ready."
And timely hitting tells the story for the Owls in game one as they put up eight runs, hitting over .500 with runners in scoring position. Woods jumped to an early lead when third baseman Jared Bendfeld struck one into orbit plating both himself and Jacob McWhirter. Jackson Kirn continued his hot streak as a little later in the frame the junior transfer roped a ball into left field scoring Colby Caton and courtesy runner Vincent Pyeatt. Woods centerfielder Kaden Kinsler was able to knock one back up the middle scoring Kirn for the fifth and final run of an eventful second inning.
The Topper offense, who plated 21 runs on the Owls a day prior, would not go down without a fight. Tallying two hits and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning, scoring two runs.
However, ol' reliable Max Benton had other plans for the red hot BMCU offense. Holding the toppers to just five hits and four runs on the day in his complete game win. The Owls were able to put up three runs in the top of the seventh inning. The first run scored off the bat of Kaden Kinsler, when he drove home Colby Caton's pinch runner Ben Kern for the sixth run of the contest on a blazing double past the right fielder. On an 0-1 count with a runner on third and two outs, senior Jacob McWhirter notched one in the hr category for the year, as he smashed a long fly ball that would plate Kinsler who was at third. Woods would give up the two runs in the bottom half of the frame but hold on to win 8-4.
In game two, William Woods again jumped ahead early, scoring two runs in the top of the third inning. Ryan Retone led off the inning with a line drive to centerfield, marking his first hit as an Owl. However, the former Roadrunner from State Fair Community College would not stay on the bases long as Kaden Kinsler muscled one out of the park to give the Owls an early 2-0 lead.
The Topper offense was able to scrape their lone run in the bottom half of the third inning when BMCU's Jacob Bryant sent a ball over the wall in left field. The Owls combination of newcomer AJ Vasquez and steady bullpen arm Carson Prescott were able to hold the Topper offense at bay the rest of the way.
William Woods added one more run in the top of the sixth inning. First baseman Brendan Rochelle, a Maumelle, Ark. native, added his first long ball on the season setting the Woods win at 3-1.
William Woods Baseball is back in action next weekend, a little closer to home, as they travel to Jefferson City, Mo. to play NCAA Division II opponent Lincoln University. This series is a three-game set, with first pitch Friday at 2 p.m. Stay tuned to wwuowls.com and @wwuowlsbsb on social media to catch the latest news on your favorite team.
