Dirnberger Throws Perfect Game; Eagles Sweep Buffaloes

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. (2/27/26) – Williams Baptist University baseball sophomore Gabe Dirnberger made program history with the first perfect game in program history as the Eagles completed a four-game sweep over Arkansas Baptist at Shell Field on Saturday afternoon.

GAME ONE - Williams 21, Arkansas Baptist 0

Dirnberger (W, 2-1) was in complete control from the first pitch, retiring all 21 Arkansas Baptist hitters he faced in a seven-inning no-hitter. The Buffaloes didn't draw a walk and managed no hits, striking out four times and putting the ball in play early as the Eagles defense handled the rest.

While Dirnberger cruised, WBU's offense overwhelmed Arkansas Baptist with 21 runs on 15 hits. Williams scored in five different innings, including a seven-run third and a nine-run sixth that turned the game into a rout.

WBU struck first in the opening inning. Lawson Aaron delivered a two-run single to left to bring home Gavin Mink and Cade Parks, and the lead grew to 3-0 when Mason Andrews lined an RBI single down the left-field line later in the frame.

The Eagles added another in the second on Mink's RBI groundout, then broke the game open in the third.   The frame was highlighted by Skylar Morrison's two-run double and an RBI single from Luke Bullins as the margin ballooned to 11-0.

Cade Parks took charge at the plate for WBU, going 3-for-3 with five runs scored, two RBIs, two walks, and a home run. His solo shot in the fifth pushed the lead to 12-0, and Williams kept piling on in the sixth with nine more runs.

Dirnberger induced a pop out and two groundouts to shortstop for the final three outs of the ballgame to complete the first perfect game in school history.

GAME TWO - Williams 16, Arkansas Baptist 6

The Buffaloes struck first and briefly controlled the early tempo after a two-run homer put ABC ahead 2-0 in the top of the first.  WBU struck back to take its first lead of the ballgame with a three-run bottom half, before Arkansas Baptist took the lead again in the top of the second with a pair of runs.

The Eagles answered immediately in the bottom of the second second, tying the game on a wild pitch before Parks crushed a two-run homer to swing the lead to 6-4. Parks struck again in the third with a three-run blast, the biggest blow in a four-run inning that pushed the margin to 10-4. WBU kept piling on with a four-run fourth, then added single runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth to build a 17-4 cushion.

Parks went 3-for-3 with four runs scored and five RBIs, driving in nearly a third of the team's runs. Lawson Aaron also had a big game (3-for-4, two RBIs).  Williams complemented the hit parade with eight stolen bags in the contest.

Reuben Barron (W, 1-0) picked up the win in relief after throwing 3.2 shutout innings with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed.  Cooper Thomas struck out the side in the sixth for a perfect inning.

Arkansas Baptist scratched across two runs in the seventh to set the final score at 17-6 as Williams secured its sixth-consecutive victory.

The wins move WBU to 7-10 overall.  Next, the Eagles open up conference play at home against Hannibal-LaGrange on March 6-7.  First pitch of game one against the Trojans on Friday is set for noon from Shell Field.