Statesmen Claim One Win in Tough Stretch of Games

McPherson, Kan./Lindsborg, Kan.--The William Penn softball team gained more experience this past weekend as it played four games in the Jayhawk State Saturday and Sunday.

WPU (3-7) opened with McPherson Saturday, falling 3-1 and 7-0.  The team then met up with Bethany Sunday, dropping the opener 5-4, but salvaging the weekend by winning the nightcap 6-3.

McPherson 3, WPU 1

The Statesmen recorded six hits in the opener with Abby Wilson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta, Biology) leading the way with two hits.

William Penn took the lead in the fifth inning after a Kiana Young (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev., Exercise Science) groundball caused a McPherson error, allowing WPU to take a 1-0 lead. The edge would not last long, though, as in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bulldogs scored three on a home run to put the game away.  Unfortunately, an early error allowed the inning to continue and put the home run hitter at the plate.

Chelsey Huff (So., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) struck out seven in the loss.

McPherson 7, WPU 0

Despite holding a 5-4 edge in hits, the Statesmen could not find the win as three errors impacted the navy and gold.  Ella Pierce (So., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management) led WPU with two base knocks, while Ashton Brown (Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) struck out five in three innings of relief.

Bethany 5, WPU 4

Valeria Quiroga (Sr., Brownsville, Texas, Sociology) got the opener started with a solo home run in the first inning.  The senior would then single in the third, scoring Bailee Rinn (Fr., Omaha, Neb., Biology) to give William Penn a 2-0 lead.

Bethany answered with two runs in fourth to knot the game at 2-2, but then managed three more over the following two frames to cap its scoring. Down by three going into the top of the seventh, William Penn cut into the lead, beginning with Huff doubling to score Wilson.  Lexi De Leon (Fr., San Pedro, Calif. Biology) then singled to plate Quiroga and move the tying run (Huff) to third base.  Unfortunately, the rally fell short on a game-ending groundout.

Quiroga was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.  Rinn also posted two hits as the navy and gold outhit the Swedes 9-6. Huff managed six strikeouts against three walks in the pitching circle.

WPU 6, Bethany 3

WPU picked up a much-needed win to close out the weekend. The victors recorded 11 hits (just five for Bethany) as Wilson, Quiroga, Huff and Charley Geguzis (Jr. Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management) all recorded two hits in the win.

Ashton Brown (Jr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) earned the victory, giving up five hits, three runs, and striking out eight over six frames.

Wilson came around on a groundout in the first, while BC answered with a run in both the third and fourth innings. Huff then singled up the middle to score Geguzis in the top of the fifth, tying things at 2-2.

The Swedes recaptured the advantage at 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, but William Penn stepped up with a big seventh inning.  Quiroga singled to center, allowing Wilson to score. Huff's single then plated Geguzis for the go-ahead run, while Gabby Adame (So. Las Vegas, Nevada, Psychology and Human Resources) drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Quiroga.  Ella Pierce wrapped up the scoring via an error by the home team.

Huff entered in the bottom of the seventh and shut down Bethany pick up the save.

Wilson and Geguzis both scored twice, while Huff ended up with two RBIs.

"Chesley Huff continues to throw well," said Head Coach Mike Christner. "We just need to be more consistent on the defensive side to help ourselves out."

Next Up: The Statesmen will have a week off before traveling to Davenport on March 8 to play St. Ambrose in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.