The William Woods University baseball team was able to build on its winning streak, but nightfall prevented the Owls from adding to it.
William Woods picked up its sixth straight victory with a 5-3 comeback in eight innings over Avila University in the opener of Tuesday's scheduled non-conference doubleheader. The nightcap, though, was suspended because of darkness going to the top of the seventh, with the teams tied at 5-all.
The game will be resumed April 14.
William Woods (21-6) forced extra innings in the first game, rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the top of the seventh. Junior left fielder Larry Price's RBI single into shallow left-center with two outs brought the Owls within a run, then senior center fielder Cody Stewart tied the game with an RBI single up the middle.
After William Woods senior reliever James Ball retired Avila (19-11) in order in the bottom of the seventh, the Owls completed their comeback by tallying two decisive runs in the eighth. Senior right fielder Nick Spagnola's RBI triple to deep right-center put William Woods on top 4-3.
Spagnola tacked on an insurance run when he scored on an error by the Eagles.
Ball - who struck out four over 3 2/3 innings of perfect relief - locked up the win when he worked his way around a one-out error in the bottom of the eighth.
Spagnola finished 2-for-4 and scored twice as the Owls totalled 11 hits. Price and senior third baseman Austin Clapp were also 2-for-4.
Senior second baseman Javier Ledesma went 1-for-2 with an RBI double in the fourth and scored the first of William Woods' two runs in the seventh.
The Owls travel to American Midwest Conference foe Lindenwood University-Belleville (Illinois) for a weekend series, opening with a single game at 2 p.m. Friday. The two teams will then play a doubleheader starting at noon Saturday.