CARL JUNCTION, Mo. - The William Woods Owls closed out their final game of the Joplin Tournament with a 13-5 victory over the Viterbo (Wisconsin) V-Hawks on Sunday.
William Woods University (4-9) scored a run in the top of the first and Viterbo tied the game after it came up with a run in the bottom of the frame. The Owls tallied four runs in the second, one in the third and one in the top of the fourth to take a 7-1 advantage.
The V-Hawks produced two runs in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Owls' lead to 7-3. Both teams came up with a run in the fifth and William Woods scored five in the top of the seventh to stretch its lead to 13-4. Viterbo added a run in the bottom of the seventh.
Senior center fielder Neal Aherin went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, five runs batted in and two runs scored as the Owls collected 13 hits. Senior second baseman Ryan Phillips was 1-for-2 with a home run, an RBI and three runs scored, while junior designated hitter Tyler Cunningham went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored.
Junior shortstop Glen DesBouillons was 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored and senior left fielder Alex St. Pierre went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore first baseman Zach Smith was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Freshman starter Tristan Steffens - a Fulton graduate - picked up his first win of the season. In four innings, Steffens allowed three earned runs on two hits, struck out six and walked three.
The Owls also played two tournament games in Joplin on Saturday. William Woods lost to the Robert Morris (Illinois) College Eagles 7-3 in the first game. In the second game, the Owls beat the Doane (Nebraska) College Tigers 7-3 to end a three-game losing streak.
William Woods took a 7-0 lead against Doane after it scored four runs in the third, one in the fourth and two in the fifth. Doane scored three in the sixth.
Senior designated hitter Jalen Poindexter went 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored as William Woods totaled 13 hits. Cunningham - who played first base - was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while sophomore third baseman Jansen Smith went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Aherin was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and DesBouillons went 1-for-2 with a triple and a run scored.
Junior starter Dany Paradis-Giroux (1-2) threw five innings to pick up the win for the Owls. Paradis-Giroux gave up two earned runs on four hits, struck out eight and did not allow a walk.
In their game against Robert Morris, the Owls took an early lead after scoring a run in the second. The Eagles took a 7-1 lead after they scored four runs in the third and three in the top of the fourth. William Woods tallied two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Junior catcher Josh Nicol was 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and a run scored as the Owls collected seven hits. Smith went 2-for-2 with a run scored.
Phillips (1-2) was the starter and took the loss for the Owls. In three innings, Phillips allowed seven earned runs on nine hits, struck out one and walked two.
The Owls open their American Midwest Conference schedule with a doubleheader at Lyon (Arkansas) College at 1 p.m. Saturday.