MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The W baseball team split its pair of games on the second, and final, day of the Huntingdon College Firehouse Invitational tournament. The Owls (2-1) defeated North Park University (Ill.), 11-7, in their morning game, but lost to host Huntingdon, 10-6, in the tourney finale on Saturday afternoon.
 
Versus North Park – in what was the first-ever meeting between the Owls and the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin foe – MUW found itself down 7-2 through five frames. But The W clawed back with three in the top of the sixth, thanks to a wild pitch and a two-run single by Zach Johnson (2-6, 3 RBI). Matthew Windham's (3-4, 2 RBI) RBI single in the seventh drew his team to within a single run, 7-6.
 
That score stood until the top of the ninth when MUW erupted for five runs to earn the come-from-behind victory. Chase Marshall (1-4) was hit by a pitch to open the inning and sacrificed to second by Zack Egan. Michael O'Neill then drew a walk, followed by a fielding error at first that allowed Swayze Rikard to reach safely and Marshall to score the tying run, 7-7.
 
After a pitching change by the Vikings, Windham stepped in and delivered a solid single that plated O'Neill with what would prove to be the deciding run. Elliott Turbyfill (2-4, 2 RBI) then slapped a two-run triple, followed by a sacrifice fly from Johnson that made it the final 11-7 score.
 
MUW's Nos. 1-3 batters – Windham, Turbyfill, and Johnson – had seven of the Owls' nine hits in the game and drove in seven of the team's runs.
 
The W's third reliever of the day, Will Carter (1-0), was the pitcher of record. Carter threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit and no runs to NPU.
 
In the nightcap game, The W simply could not contain the high-octane offense of unbeaten Huntingdon. The Hawks, who have tallied in double figures in every game this season, led 5-3 through four innings.
 
In the top of the seventh, MUW shocked the Hawks by posting three runs. A Baron Brack (2-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI) single to center drove in Marshall (2-4). Then Egan laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that allowed Johnson to come home and Egan to reach, making it 5-5. A passed ball allowed Brack to cross the plate with the go-ahead run that had MUW fans elated.
 
But the joy proved short-lived, as Huntingdon's bats came to life in the bottom of the seventh that resulted in five Hawks' scores and the 10-6 final on the scoreboard.
 
Jay Marbutt went 3-for-5 to lead the offense. Rikard, Bryson Barnes, Brack, and Marshall each had a pair of hits.
 
MUW starter Zach Connell (0-1) took the loss in his first start with the team. Connell went 6.1 innings and was charged with seven runs (all earned) and six hits. He struck out four and walked just one.