Watkins Powers Eagles to Split on Senior Day
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Central Baptist (AR) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 4 |
|
Williams Baptist (AR) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 | X | 14 | 14 | 0 |
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Central Baptist (AR) | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 1 |
|
Williams Baptist (AR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 1 |
WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (4/18/25) – A big day at the plate from Jacob Watkins powered the Williams Baptist University baseball team to a doubleheader split with Central Baptist on Senior Day by the final scores of 12-4 and 14-8.
Watkins led the way for the Eagles at the plate in game two of the doubleheader, as the senior went 3-4 with seven RBI, two home runs, and two runs scored.
The Mustangs got on the board first with a run in the second inning, but the Eagles matched in the bottom of the frame after J.D. Burton scored on an error.
The Eagles took their first lead of the contest in the third inning on an RBI double from Watkins that put Williams up 5-4.
After a solo home run from CBC tied the game in the fourth, Gavin Mink, Nicholas Jones, and Alex Orman each put up RBI singles before Jacob Watkins smacked a grand slam to put WBU up 12-5 in the bottom of the inning.
Watkins gave Williams some much needed insurance with another home run, a two-run shot, in the bottom of the sixth. CBC scored one run to cut the deficit to 14-8 in the seventh, but were unable to complete the comeback as the Eagles secured the series split.
Cooper Thomas (1-0) got the win on the mound for WBU after tossing two innings.
Cody Jones (3-3, 2B, 2 RBI) led the Eagle offense in game one of the doubleheader. Jones provided the Eagles first run of the game in the bottom of the second on an RBI double, and added another run in the sixth on an RBI single.
Central Baptist jumped out to an 8-0 lead after the first two innings, and the Eagles were unable to create a comeback. Skylar Morrison hit a home run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Eagles could not overcome the Mustangs offensive assault.
Parker Jeffries (6-3) took the loss in the matchup.
Between games, Williams honored 14 seniors who have dedicated their lives to the WBU baseball program over the last few years. Hunter Tuberville, Kaleb Paulk, Alex Gaela, Noah Burns, Tyrell Burnett, Gavin Mink, Alex Orman, Jacob Watkins, Cody Jones, Blaine Wood, Jacob Richards, Jolby Jones, Fowler Maddox, and Parker Jeffries were all honored in a ceremony between the two games.
The split moves WBU to 23-22 overall and 14-18 in conference play. The Eagles will return to the diamond to make one last push towards the American Midwest Conference Tournament as they host Mission on Apr. 23-24 at home. First pitch of game one on Wednesday, Apr. 23 is set for 1:30 p.m.