O'FALLON, Mo.- In the nightcap game for day one of the AMC Baseball Conference Tournament, the Owls of William Woods (29-21, 20-16 AMC) hosted University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (22-30, 16-20 AMC) in an elimination game under the lights at Carshield Field. The Owls, facing a one run deficit in the bottom of the ninth, were down to their last strike when Jacob McWhirter singled to send the Owls to fight another day.
William Woods struggled offensively through the first six innings, not getting a single base knock in the first part of the contest. Taking advantage of a stagnate Woods' offense, UHSP drove in one run in each of the first and fourth innings. On the wrong end of a 2-0 scoreline, Woods finally got things going offensively scoring a single run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Transfer junior Ryan Retone leveraged a bases-loaded, two-out bunt single to bring in the Owls' first run.
The Eutectics responded by scoring two runs in the top of the eighth inning to grow their lead to three runs. Wood quickly answered back in bottom half of the frame when two runs came around to score on a series of costly misplays by the UHSP defense. Kaden Kinsler singled to lead off the inning, and scored on the ball in play from McWhirter that resulted in both Owls coming around to score. Woods' top bullpen arm, Carson Prescott, was able to hold the Euts scoreless in the top half of the ninth inning.
Trailing by one run in the bottom of the ninth, Woods came down to the final strike twice in the inning before taking the lead on a walk-off base hit from McWhirter. With one out, shortstop Cam Casso earned a four pitch walk to flip over the lineup to the top of the order. Leadoff hitter Retone reached base shortly after on a base hit that was picked up by the catcher but was too late to get the speedy left-handed hitter out at first. A fielder's choice later and the Owls were at the corners with two outs, and their season on the line. Kinsler, working a full count, swung at strike three in the dirt but the UHSP catcher was unable to keep the ball in front resulting in a wild pitch that tied the game for William Woods. Ols skipper John Cavness turned to pinch runner Vincent Pyeatt to take over at second base for Colby Caton who advanced from first on the dropped third strike. Senior Jacob McWhirter, on a 1-2 count, pulled a fastball into right field for a base knock. The speedy Pyeatt rounding third on the play and heading for home to set up a play at the plate. The throws from the UHSP corner outfielder was just late as Pyeatt was able to slide in to keep the Owls season alive.
Woods will play at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night against the lower seed of the losers of game 4 and 5.
