Abanathy Sets All-Time Win Mark as Eagles Advance in AMC Tournament

O'FALLON, Mo. (5/1/23) – In an elimination game in the American Midwest Conference Baseball Tournament, the fifth-seeded Williams Baptist University Eagles downed sixth-seeded Hannibal-LaGrange by the final score of 9-6.

With the win, Eagles Head Coach Stephen Abanathy passed John Katrosh to become the winningest head coach in WBU baseball history with 149 wins. 

The Eagles took control of the ballgame early, jumping on the Trojans with five runs in the bottom of the first.  Nicholas Jones drove in the first run by drawing a bases-loaded walk, and Lawson Aaron followed with a two-run single to make it 3-0.  Tate Isaacs followed up with a two-run single of his own to push the Eagles advantage to five after the first inning. 

After five scoreless innings from starting pitcher Skylar Morrison, the Trojan bats came around to cash in with a grand slam in the sixth to cut the deficit to one.

Hannibal took the lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run single from Adam Lange.  Going into the eighth, WBU trailed HLGU for the first time on the day by the score of 6-5.

With its back against the wall, WBU responded with its first runs since the first inning in the form of a two-run single from Gavin Mink to take back the lead.  Nick Jones struck again for his second and third RBIs on a two-run double to right that provided some much needed breathing room, pushing the Eagles lead to 9-6.

Noah Willingham was credited with the win, racking up his second win in as many days.  Willingham shut out the Trojans to pick up the final four outs.

The Eagles will move on to face the winner of the William Woods/Columbia matchup at 7 PM tonight from CarShield Field in O'Fallon, Mo.