FULTON, Mo.- The William Woods University Owls (20-15, 13-11 AMC) finished their four-game set strong against Central Baptist College (20-15, 17-7 AMC), sweeping the double header on day two. The Woods' offense capitalized on stellar pitching performances from AJ Vasquez and Gavin Allen to tie the season series with the mustangs.
Before the first pitch, William Woods took the time to recognize the graduating seniors who have donated their time and dedication to the program. AJ Willenberg, Vincent Pyeatt, Wyatt Fischer, Nolan Reichers, Tyler Horton, Cade Irwin, Peyton Clampitt, Mason Silverwood, Jackson Truesdell, Evan Johnston, Carson Prescott, and Sean Goings were all recognized for their dedication to the tradition of excellence.
Senior day festivities did not delay the Owls at all as the Owls tallied eight hits in game one and carried a three-run third inning to victory behind Vasquez on the mound. In the frame, William Woods opened with back-to-back one-out singles from Colby Caton and Jude Gremillion. The Owls were able to take advantage of a Mustang miscue to take a 1-0 lead. Jacob McWhirter singled the next at bat to bring home Gremillion from third, and growing William Woods' lead to two. The third, and final run of the game, came off the bat of leftfielder Cade Irwin. The senior from The Colony, Texas, roped a ball deep down the line in right field for a double that scored Kaden Kinsler.
The no doubt hero of game one was starting pitcher AJ Vasquez. The freshman starter from Manteca, California, struck out five batters over his complete game (7 innings), scattering just five hits against a very explosive CBC offense. Woods wins game one of the double header 3-0.
In game two, The Woods' offense exploded for 12 runs, carrying a seven-run fourth inning to a 12-5 victory. The game started with the Owls down 4-0 after the top of the second after the Mustangs combined for two singles, a double, and a triple to bring home four runs.
William Woods, facing a swift four-run deficit, needed the offense to come alive to stay in the game. Jacob McWhirter led off the bottom of the second with a line drive to centerfield, followed by a line drive to right field off the bat of Cade Irwin. First baseman Brendan Rochelle continued his dominance at the plate with a launching a double over the head of the left fielder that scored McWhirter and left Irwin at third with no outs. During the at bat of Jude Gremillion, Irwin scored on a ball in the dirt for the Owls second run of the inning. True freshman Cam Casso is credited with the third RBI in the inning, scoring Rochelle from third base on a CBC miscue. Colby Caton, who is hitting .333 in conference play, barreled a two out single that scored Casso from second base. The Owls gave up a lone run in the top of the third inning, now facing a 5-4 deficit after their second inning early offense.
In the fourth inning, William Woods tallied seven runs in the frame, scoring the most runs in an inning since game two of the Hannibal-LaGrange series. Woods tallied five free passes, two singles, and a series of back-to-back-to-back doubles to score their seven runs. With a run already across in the frame and runners on first and second, Kaden Kinsler started the doubles streak roping a line drive down the line in right to score Ryan Retone. Jacob McWhirter barreled the second double of the frame off of the topmost part of the right centerfield wall that brought in Kinsler and Colby Caton who reached base on a walk earlier in the frame. Cade Iwin ended the doubles party lifting a fly ball to deep centerfield scoring McWhirter from second base. Brendan Rochelle and Ryan Retone are credited with the last two RBIs in the inning after reaching base on a hard ground ball and a bases loaded hit by pitch.
Woods was able to tack on a lone run in the fifth inning when Jacob McWhirter hit a double into the corner in right field that scored Kaden Kinsler who reached base a batter prior on a single to left.
The saving grace for the Owls on the mound was four shutout innings from redshirt freshman Gavin Allen. The right hander from Martinsburg, Mo., scattered four hits over his four innings of work and struck out two, giving the Mustang offense to answer for Woods' seven run fourth inning. Owls win this one with a 12-5 final, and a series split against Central Baptist College.
The Owls are back in action next weekend against University of Health Science and Pharmacy for a four-game AMC set. First pitch at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Lloyd Hopkins Field.
