Statesmen Sweep Ravens in Scrappy Games

Oskaloosa—William Penn's softball team hosted Heart of America Athletic Conference foe Benedictine Friday with the Statesmen taking down the visiting team by scores of 10-7 and 2-0.

WPU (10-14, 3-1 Heart) pulled off a late-inning comeback in the first game of the doubleheader, being down 5-1 to the Ravens (10-15) before putting up seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Ravens put up two quick runs over the first three innings, but the Statesmen answered back with one of their own, off a fielder's choice that scored Sarah Gallivan (Sr., Round Lake, Ill., Secondary Education) to make it 2-1.

Once the fifth inning hit, WPU became a different team. Down 5-1, Gallivan moved Nayely Martinez (Jr., Carson, Calif., Business Management) around the bases before Abby Wilson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta, Biology) laid a bunt down, leading to an errant throw, scoring Martinez. Charley Geguzis (Jr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management) singled to right center and scored Gallivan, while moving Wilson over to third. Chelsey Huff (So., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) doubled to right field, scoring two and making it a tied game at 5-5. Caitlyn Foster (So., Livermore, Calif., Elementary Education) then came up to the plate, smacking a three-run home run to take an 8-5 lead to end the inning.

Valeria Quiroga (Sr., Brownsville, Texas, Sociology) doubled in the sixth inning, adding on another run, making it 9-5. Huff's sacrifice fly scored Geguzis, putting a bow on the end of the game.

The offensive explosion by the victors saw 11 hits come their way with Wilson, Geguzis, Quiroga, Huff, and Gallivan all recording two each. Huff and Foster paved the way for scoring with a team-high three RBIs.

Emily Bryant (Jr., University Place, Wash., Nursing) took home the win, recording four strikeouts and giving up seven hits.

The second game of the doubleheader saw William Penn score two runs in the bottom of the second inning, as Kianna Young (Sr., Las Vegas, Nev., Exercise Science) drove in Allyson Stewart (Sr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) off a single to make it 1-0. Wilson scored Martinez in the same inning, capping a low-scoring affair.

Huff shut down the Ravens on her way to six strikeouts, while only giving up five hits and no runs.

"These were two great team wins today," said Head Coach Mike Christner. "We got contributions from a lot of players, and we put two good games together."

Next Up: Due to inclement weather Sunday, WPU will now face Park in a Heart doubleheader Tuesday at 1 p.m.