The William Woods Owls baseball team split a doubleheader against Westminster College on Saturday in Fulton, Missouri. The Owls lost the first game 8-7 but came back to win the second game 5-4, according to team officials.
In the first game, the Owls took an early lead with a two-run homer from designated hitter Baron Brack in the first inning. William Woods added two more runs in the second. Westminster responded with three runs in the first inning and one in the second to tie the game at 4-4.
William Woods regained the lead in the third, with Zach Johnson leading off with a single and advancing on a double steal. Catcher Michael O’Neill then hit his fourth home run of the season, giving the Owls a 7-4 advantage. Westminster scored two runs in the seventh inning to take the lead for good. Relief pitcher Connor Reilly closed out the inning for Westminster, which held on in the drizzle to secure the win.
In the second game, Johnson opened with his team-leading eighth home run, a two-run shot that scored Chase Marshall. Westminster responded with one run in the first and two in the second to take a 3-2 lead. The Owls regained control in the third, with Matthew Windham tying the game with his sixth homer of the season. Marshall then hit his fifth home run of the year to put William Woods ahead for good.
Johnson added an RBI single in the fifth, providing insurance, and Westminster scored a solo homer in the seventh. Starter Zach Connell pitched 4.1 innings and allowed three runs. Campbell McCluney earned the win in relief, improving to 2-3 this season.
The teams are scheduled to play the rubber game of the series Sunday at 12 p.m. at Saucier Field.
