JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.- Its all smiles for the Owls as William Woods (5-3) takes the 3-1 series win over Lincoln University (1-7). The final meeting of these two teams of the year, The Owls won 10-2, totaling nine hits in the contest.
"It was good to see us respond with a win to take the series." said Coach Cavness, "Piepmeier gave us a quality outing to set the tone while our offense manufactured timely runs led by Brenden Rochelle"
William Woods scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning, after giving up a run in the bottom of the first. Kaden Kinsler brought home the first run of the contest for the Owls when his sacrifice fly to deep left center brought home right fielder Jackson Kirn, who reached base on a walk. Three at bats later, while Jared Bendfeld was at the plate, Owls second baseman Colby Caton stole home to give The Woods a 2-1 lead. With Bendfeld still at the dish, and a runner in scoring position, the transfer shortstop rattled a ball past the outstretched glove of the Blue Tiger shortstop to score Nolan Reichers. The next hitter, the sweet swinging Brenden Rochelle, laced a seed down the line in left that scored the speedy Bendfeld from second base. The Owls notched their last run of the frame on ball to the screen that brought home Rochelle after he stole third base.
William Woods scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning when first baseman Rochelle brought home Joe Celeste and Jared Bendfeld on a base hit to centerfield. The Owls notched another lone, run in the seventh before tacking two more runs on in the bottom of the eighth. Rochelle's single into left field scored Joe Celeste, who reached on a walk, and Nolan Reichers, who doubled to centerfield, setting the Owls win at 10-2.
Owls arm Keith Piepmeier tallied his first win on the season, holding the Lincoln offense to 2 runs, one earned, scattering three hits and seven strikeouts over his six innings of work. Familiar face in the infield, Vincent Pyeatt, tallied a strikeout and held the opponent hitless in his season pitching debut; managing two innings of work on the mound. John Cavness handed the ball to right-handed flamethrower Jackson Truesdell in the ninth. The senior kept Lincoln out of the scoring column.
The Owls are back in action next weekend, weather permitting, at the NAIA Preview Showcase in Joplin, Mo. William Woods is slated to play a double header on Friday against Northwestern College and split a double header between Morningside and Graceland on Saturday.
