WPU Back on Track with Pair of Victories

Rosemont, Ill.--After dropping its first games of the season, the Statesmen softball team rebounded well in claiming two victories on the second day of the NAIA Leadoff Classic hosted by Roosevelt Saturday.

William Penn (6-2) defeated Judson (Ill) 7-2 and then rallied past Indiana South Bend 3-2 in eight innings.

The Eagles jumped out to the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but WPU answered in the bottom of the second as Chelsey Huff (Sr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) singled in Tori Smith (So., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education).

William Penn's offense then erupted with six runs in the third.  Ella Pierce (Sr., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management) had the biggest hit of the frame with a double that plated Erin Dawson (Fr., Delta, Iowa, Psychology and Sociology), while Peyton Naranjo (So., Ripon, Calif., Biology) notched the highest numbers of RBIs with two as her single brought in Bailee Rinn (Jr., Omaha, Neb., Biology) and Marin Frazee (So., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science).  Tori Smith and Rinn also collected RBIs, while Ella Pierce stole home for her run.

Emily Bryant (Sr., University Place, Wash., Nursing) made it hold up from there, limiting Judson to just two runs on five hits.  The senior, who had three perfect innings of work, struck out a pair of batters and walked only one.

Bryant also helped her own cause with two hits, while Rinn matched her with a pair of base knocks.  Ella Pierce not only had a hit, but also walked once.  The Statesmen were active on the basepaths as well with six stolen bases.

"We were pretty methodical against Judson," Head Coach Laura North said.  "Emily Bryant was terrific in the circle and at the plate.  I am proud of her for pulling off a solid win.  We got our offense going too, which is fun."

Unfortunately, the William Penn could not carry that momentum into Saturday's second outing as it was quieted through the first six innings against Indiana South Bend.  The Titans recorded the first run of the contest in the third and continued to stay on top 1-0 until the final frame of regulation.

Down to her team's final out of the matchup, but with two runners on base, Laila Pelds (Jr., Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Elementary Education) delivered the game-tying hit to play pinch-runner Katie Shewry (So., Ottumwa, Iowa, Nursing).

Madie Anderson (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Elementary Education) proceeded to strike out the side in the bottom of the seventh to force extra play with the game tied at 1-1.

Ella Pierce drove in Tori Smith with the go-ahead run, and Shewry added an insurance run with a single of her own to plate Pierce.

IUSB was able to cut the advantage in half in its at-bats, but Anderson held on to get the win.  She nearly struck out every batter she faced, tallying eight Ks in her 3 1/3-inning performance.  The senior only permitted one hit.

Tori Smith was also effective in her 4 2/3 frames as the starter.  She allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts (two walks).

The navy and gold managed to post an 8-5 edge in hits with Naranjo finding the most success.  The sophomore was perfect at the dish, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.  Ella Pierce added two base knocks and a walk as well.

"Our win over Indiana South Bend was a team effort with a couple of heroes," North said.  "Tori Smith and Madie Anderson were as good as we can ask for.  Ella Pierce was clutch when we needed it, but the big hero was Katie Shewry.  She earned her first college varsity at-bat and she came through.  It was a special moment for our team.  When someone works so hard and waits for an opportunity, then gets it, AND succeeds, it is just so exciting."

"The team had a ton of grit and fight," North added.  "We had a couple things not go our way, including Tori Smith hitting a two-run home run that was taken away by a judgment call on "dome rules", so we were pretty deflated early in the game.  I am proud that our Statesmen fought though that."

Next Up: William Penn remains in Rosemont, Ill. Sunday as it faces St. Francis (Ill.) in a pair of contests at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.