FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University (6-5) opened their home slate by splitting a doubleheader with the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy (6-9) on Saturday afternoon at Owls Field. The Owls dropped game one 6-4 before bouncing back with a 10-6 victory in game two to earn the split.
The Owls fell behind early in the opener as the Eutectics plated two runs in the first inning on a home run over the left field fence. William Woods answered right back in the bottom half of the inning when
Jude Gremillion singled to right field to score
Cam Casso, who led off the frame with a double.
UHSP added another two-run homer in the second inning to extend its lead to 4-1. Both pitchers then settled in, keeping the score unchanged over the next three innings.
Kaden Kinsler broke the drought in the fifth inning with an RBI single that scored Casso and trimmed the deficit to two. However, the Eutectics responded with two more runs to take a 6-2 lead into the final inning.
The Owls mounted a late push in the seventh as Kinsler launched a two-run home run over the right field fence to bring Woods within two, but the comeback attempt fell short in the 6-4 loss.
Gavin Allen got the start on the mound, tossing five innings while striking out nine and walking four.
Game two followed a similar script early, with each team pushing across a run in the first inning. In the second, Casso delivered a big swing, driving in both Jared Bendfield and
Ben Kern to give the Owls a 3-1 advantage.
AJ Vasquez started on the mound and recorded five strikeouts over three and a third innings of work before UHSP threatened.
Keith Piepmeier came on in relief and worked out of the jam to keep the momentum on the Owls' side.
Carson Shuttleworth sparked the offense in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run. An inning later, the Owls erupted for six runs, highlighted by a pinch-hit two-run homer from
Evan Rainey that stretched the lead to 10-3.
The Eutectics made things interesting in the seventh with three runs, but
Ayden Gates entered to close the door and secure the 10-6 win for William Woods.
The Owls will return to Owls Field tomorrow to wrap up the weekend series with another doubleheader against UHSP. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
