SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – William Woods opened the first round of the Heart of America Conference tournament with a win over the #6-seeded Grand View Vikings, advancing to the next round.
The Owls got the party started early, putting two on and scoring on a
Colby Caton double down the right-field line to give the Owls a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. This would be all the run support Vasquez would need.
AJ Vasquez would get the ball to start the tournament and would deliver a gem for the Owls, tossing 6.2 innings while only allowing 1 run on 2 strikeouts en route to his seventh win on the year.
The Owls would answer back to Grand View's run at the top of the third with two of their Own as
Kaden Kinsler stepped to the plate and sent a slider towering over the right field wall to give the Owls a 4-1 lead over the Vikings.
Each offense would go quietly until the top of the sixth inning, when Grand View would finally get to Vasquez for two runs to get him out of the game.
Keith Piepmeier would come in relief and slam the door on the sixth and give the Owls a chance to grow their lead.
The Owls would do just that as a pinch-hit single from
Sam Russo would score
Jackson Kirn to grow their lead again. Another infield single from
Cam Casso would score
Jude Gremillion to push the Owls back in front and grow their lead, 6-3.
This is where the game would stay, as Piepmeier would silence the Grand View offense over the final two innings with no hits, walks, or runs allowed while striking out two to give the Owls their first playoff win in the Heart of America Conference tournament.
The Owls return to action in the second round today against Central Methodist University, with first pitch set for 8:30 p.m.
