Eagles Explode For 12-Run Inning in Doubleheader Sweep of Arkansas Baptist

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/26/26) – The Williams Baptist University swept the first two games of a four-game set against Arkansas Baptist on Thursday at Shell Field.

GAME ONE - Williams 14, Arkansas Baptist 2

Williams erupted for a decisive 12-run fifth inning and rode a complete-game effort from Ben Bledsoe to roll past Arkansas Baptist 14-2 in game one

Arkansas Baptist struck first in the top of the first with a two-run homer.  WBU answered immediately in the bottom of the inning when Cade Parks scored on a groundout to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Eagles tied it in the third on a sacrifice fly from Parks bringing home Will Riley to even the game at 2-2.  

The game stayed even until Williams sent wave after wave to the plate in the fifth, scoring 12 runs in the inning to break the game open.

Bodey Ellis led off the frame with a pinch-hit solo homer to give WBU its first lead of the game.  Gavin Mink followed with a two-run single, Lawson Aaron added an RBI single of his own, then Skylar Morrison crushed a three-run shot to extend the lead to 9-2.

Ellis struck for his second homer of the inning, this time a three-run shot to widen the gap to 12-2.  The Eagles added two more runs to finish off the 12-run inning.  Williams cruised to the victory in the series opener after that.

Ben Bledsoe (2-2) went the distance to earn the win.  The Eagles starter went seven innings with 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, and 9 strikeouts on 96 pitches.

GAME TWO - Williams 12, Arkansas Baptist 6

Arkansas Baptist scored the game's first run in the top of the first before WBU answered with a six-run bottom of the first.  Williams scored six on three walks and three wild pitches without a hit in the frame to take a 6-1 lead after one.

Despite the early hole, the Buffaloes collected 10 hits, including five doubles, to chip away in the middle innings.  A run in the second, two in the third, and one in the fourth cut the deficit to 7-5 at the halfway mark in the ballgame.

The Eagles responded in the bottom of the fourth with four runs to widen the gap again.  Morrison drove in a run after reaching on an error, Connor Brinkley added an RBI single, and Parker Cook delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a pinch-hit two-run double.  

WBU added one more in the fifth on another RBI single from Morrison to add some extra breathing room at 12-5.  Kaden Martin (Sv, 1) closed the door on the mound, allowing just one earned run on two hits while striking out four in the final three innings of the game.

Dawson Cloud (1-3) earned his first win of the season after tossing four innings to start the game with five strikeouts.

The wins move the Eagles to 5-10 on the season.  WBU will wrap up its series against Arkansas Baptist with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 27.  First pitch of game three of the series is set for 11 a.m. from Shell Field.