Joplin, Mo. – This afternoon the Columbia College baseball team was back in action when they traveled to Joplin, Missouri, to take on the William Woods (Mo.) University Owls in the 2018 AMC Baseball Championships. The Cougars, who earned the fourth overall seed in the tournament, were unable to defeat the Owls as they fell by a final score of 5-0 to drop to 32-15 on the season.
Columbia College put together six hits in the 5-0 loss. Neither side was able to get anything going through the first few innings of the game as both pitchers were dealing early. However, the Owls were able to break into the scoring column in the top of the fourth after a two run double put them up 2-0 midway through the game. They were able to add one run in the fifth, one run in the sixth, and one run in the eighth to take a 5-0 lead into the final inning of the contest. The Cougars did their best to get back into the game and were able to put two runners on the final half inning but the Owls picked up the final outs of the game to hand Columbia their third straight loss.
Chris Wall (2-2) got the start in this one as the freshman allowed four hits and three earned runs while striking out four in 4.1 innings on the mound. Derek Sallee (5-3) and Cody Ebert (5-3) came in to relieve Wall as the two combined to allow five hits and two earned runs while striking out one in the final 4.2 innings of the game. Offensively, Blade McKee went 2-3 to lead the Cougars at the plate.
The baseball team is back in action tomorrow, May 3rd when they continue play in the 2018 AMC Baseball Championships in Joplin, Missouri. The Cougars will take on the Central Baptist (Ark.) College Mustangs in an elimination game starting at 10 a.m.
