Mustangs Fall To Owls In Series Opener

Erik Holth, CBC Sports Information Director

            Conway, Ark. – Opening their final American Midwest Conference series of the season today, Central Baptist College baseball hosted the Owls of William Woods University this afternoon at Bear Stadium on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas. CBC (20-25, 7-12 AMC) got behind early, tied the game twice, but couldn't come up with a clutch hit, falling to WWU (27-17, 12-7 AMC) 5-2.

            WWU got a run in the first inning against starter Mason Sellers and the score remained 1-0 until the fourth, when a wild pitch scored Gabe Walker to tie the game at one. Woods got to Sellers again in the sixth, taking a 2-1 lead on a groundout, but the Mustangs answered again, scoring a single run on a error to tie the game at two. WWU would plate three in the eighth thanks to an error and a double and were held down in the ninth to set up drama in the final inning. Ruben Hernandez led off the ninth with a single which was followed by a single from Austin Teal. Three batters later, A.J. Serrano would deliver a pinch-hit single to load the bases, but Nick Aide's foul out to first ended the contest. Sellers went six innings and allowed two runs on five hits with three walks and a season-high eight strikeouts. Jackson Pope got the loss, allowing two hits and three runs (one earned) in an inning of work. Landon Hitchcock pitched the final two innings and surrendered nothing on a hit with two Ks.

            The Mustangs and Owls wrap up their series tomorrow at Bear Stadium with a doubleheader beginning at noon. Senior Day festivities honoring Ben Slate, Steven Stewart, Gabe Walker, Gage Harris, Justin "Woody" Raines, Kyle Bass, A.J. Serrano, and Kevin Welker will begin at 11 a.m.