FULTON, Mo.- In their last AMC series of the year, William Woods University (28-18, 20-14 AMC) hosts #20 Missouri Baptist University (35-9, 29-5 AMC) in a four-game set at Backer Sports Complex. Due to inclement weather, the games were moved from a typical Friday/Saturday series to Friday/Monday to ensure that the games were played. On day one it was all Spartans as the AMC front runner swept the two-game series.
The Spartans jumped on the board early, scoring four runs in the first inning. The Woods' offense was able to scratch back two more runs on a no-doubt blast from sophomore Kaden Kinsler, before surrendering three more runs in the top of the second. The Owls would match a one-run third inning with Missouri Baptist before giving up lone runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Facing a 10-3 deficit late in the contest, against a national powerhouse, Woods had some work to do on offense. Kinsler led off the frame with a double into deep centerfield. Jacob McWhirter barreled a ball past the outstretched glove of the Spartan third baseman to leave runners at the corners. Hitting in the five-hole, Cade Irwin, cut the lead to six runs on a sacrifice fly to centerfield inching the Woods closer to that 10-run score.
In the bottom of the seventh, pinch hitter Evan Rainey led off the inning with a loud double into the power alley to spark the offense. True freshman shortstop Cam Casso brought Rainey's pinch runner Nolan Reichers into score on the next play to cut the lead to five runs. Two batters later, Colby Caton singled to right field to leave runners at first and second for the power bat of Kinsler. The Owls center fielder, set to face a new arm for the first time in the contest, worked a full count before hammering an inside hanging breaking ball deep over the wall in right field to cut the lead to two runs.
With the Spartan lead being cut drastically, the Missouri Baptist skipper turned to veteran closer Zach Lucas to shut down the comeback attempt. The Spartan closer did his job, ending the game at 10-8 in favor of Missouri Baptist.
Despite only out hitting the Owls 9-7, the Spartans put up 10 runs in game two to take a 10-3 win into a two-game series lead. Missouri Baptist put up six runs in the top of the first inning to take the early lead. Woods was able to scrape together one run in the first, and two in the second, but never really found their footing on offense. The Spartans scored one run in each of the second and third innings before cementing their win with a two-spot in the top of the sixth.
On the day William Woods tallied 17 hits, with Kaden Kinsler hitting two long-balls and bringing in five. On the mound, the Owls saw two dominating performances from relief pitchers Vincent Pyeatt and Wyatt Fischer who combined for four innings of scoreless baseball, striking out six.
Woods resumes the series on Monday, first pitch at 4 p.m. under the lights at Backer Sports Complex.
