W baseball wins at WS
DUBOIS, Penn. – This entire season coach Matthew Wolfenbarger has preached to the W Owls baseball team to continue the fight even if it finds itself down.
In game one of the USCAA Small College World Series, Wolfenerger's words stuck with his team and The W was able to overcome a 7-3 deficit to take Florida National 10-9.
The Owls began the game ahead of the Conquistadors 3-0 with early runs in the first and second inning. Damain Benefield doubled to right field in the first to allow Will Peters to score The W's first run of the game. In the second, Nicholas Brooks hit his first homer of the season for a single RBI and Lukas Murphy scored a run on an error for the early lead.
In the third inning, the Conquistadors scored one run then followed the outing with six runs in the fourth.
The Owls regrouped and shifted the defense. Eiland Cleckler took the mound in the fifth to relief starting pitcher Drew Williams. Cleckler, a freshman from Clanton, Ala., pitched three innings for three strikeouts, three hits against, and one earned run. He improved to 2-1 this season.
The Owls offense found a second wind in the seventh for four runs and their first world series victory. Brooks hit a double to allow Benefield to score the tying run and Brandon Jones scored the winning run on an error by the third baseman.
At the plate, Peters, Benefield, and Brooks tallied two hits for two RBI to lead The W offense while Peters and Murphy led the team with two runs each.
"I wouldn't trade any of these guys for anyone," Wolfenbarger said. "They were in the game the whole time, from those on the bench to those on the field. They did exactly what I asked them to do; play hard, be loud, and don't get down. Show the world you deserve to be here and represent the university the best way possible. These guys continue to surprise me. Just when I've think I've seen it all with this group, they do something that amazes me. Great job (Monday) and great win."
The Owls baseball team was unable to make a clean sweep in day one of the USCAA Small College World Series. After taking the first game of the day in a late inning rally, a repeat victory was not in the cards for The W, falling 10-1 to the No. 1 seeded University of Cincinnati–Clermont.
Owls starting pitcher David Standifer led a strong defensive front in the first two innings of the competition with two strikeouts and one hit against to stall the Cougars offense.
In the bottom of the third, The W's fielding wavered to allow two runs on two hits and two errors, giving UC Clermont a 2-0 lead.
The W did not let the runs go unanswered. In the top of the fourth, RJ Cox hit a single to right field, allowing Damain Benefield to score an Owls run.
Despite a fierce effort, The W struggled to mount an effective defensive against the Cougars. UC Clermont continued its scoring run with a run in the fourth, four runs in the fifth, and three runs in the six to the thwart an Owls victory.
Standifer, a freshman from Mobile, Ala., pitched four innings for three strikeouts, six runs (four earned), and six hits against for his fourth loss on the mound.
Austin Sparks took over pitching duties in the fifth for two innings, two strikeouts, four earned runs, and four hits against.
The Owls will be back in action today when they fight to stay in the tournament at 5 p.m.