DUBOIS, Penn. – The No. 5 seeded Owls baseball team opened the 2019 USCAA Small College World Series against the No. 4 Wright State University-Lake Campus on Monday afternoon at Showers Field. After carrying the lead into the fifth inning, The W saw the Lakers bring in three runs on a single and a double to start a rally and close the game ahead of the Owls 5-2.

Returning from an injury, Owls ace pitcher Drew Williams took the mound against Wright State's Ryan Barker. Williams pitched a scoreless four innings, while Barker saw an unearned run in the first to start the competition.

In the top of the first, Heath Ford made it to base on a throwing error and advanced to second and Damain Benefield reached first on a walk. Johndavid Birdsong started the scoring effort with a single to left field to bring Ford home giving The W a 1-0 lead.

Both teams blanked in the second, third, and fourth inning but the Lakers scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take their first lead.

Benefield, the Owls power hitter, hit a home run over the left center fence to give the Owls an additional run and bring the score to 3-2.

Wright State did not let it go unanswered, scoring two runs on three hits to close the game 5-2.

Williams, Owls starter, pitched 4.1 innings for seven strikeouts, five walks, three earned runs, and four hits against.

Luke Hobson entered the game in the fifth to pitch 1.2 innings with two strikeouts, one walk, two earned runs, and four hits against.

With a single and a double, Birdsong led The W at the plate with a 2-for-3 appearance and one RBI, while Ford and Benefield scored one run each.

The Owls will be back in action on Tuesday, May 14 when they fight to stay in the tournament at 11 a.m. EST/10 a.m. CST. They will face Penn State - Mont Alto.