FULTON, Mo.- William Woods (18-13, 11-9 AMC), in an unfamiliar home venue, hosted the Cougars from Columbia College (22-5, 16-4 AMC) at Battle High School for day two of their AMC Conference series. Battle, the usual home field for the Cougars, saw 32 runs scored on the day with seven home runs being hit out of the park.
In game one the Owls were able to plate six runs, scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and four in the bottom of the seventh. In the sixth, Brenden Rochelle scored on a bases-loaded fielder's choice to the Columbia shortstop for the first run of the day for the Woods. Jacob McWhirter, now at third base with two outs, took advantage of a pitch to the backstop to score the second run for the Owls.
In the seventh inning, facing a 16-2 deficit, William Woods plated four runs in the inning. Pinch hitter Jude Gremillion started the frame with a single to centerfield. The Owls second baseman Colby Caton doubled to centerfield two batters later to score Gremillion. The next hitter, Brenden Rochelle, continued his hot streak lacing a single back up the middle driving in a run. With two outs, and Rochelle on first, Owls' slugger Jacob McWhirter belted a deep fly ball to score the final two runs of the day for Woods on a two-run home run.
A 30-minute break was enough to slow down the Cougar offense but not stop it as they go on to score eight runs in the game. The Owls gave up four runs in the top half of the first inning, three runs in the second and a lone run in the third to set Columbia up for an 8-2 win.
On offense, Woods tallied two runs plating a run in the fourth and sixth innings. The sweet swinging right-handed stick of Brenden Rochelle knocked in the first run of the day for the Owls. The long, deep drive to right field marked his second home run of the 2025 campaign. In the sixth inning, it was Rochelle who doubled into left field to set the inning up for the Owls. The Woods first baseman scored on a single into shallow left field off the bat of Nolan Reichers.
A positive for the Owls on the day was the four and a third innings of dominance from Gavin Allen. The redshirt freshman from Martinsburg, Mo., tallied six strikeouts and scattered four hits in his time on the mound.
The Woods is back in action at home next weekend as they host Central Baptist College. Senior day is set for Saturday at noon, at Backer Sports Complex.
