Huff’s Shutout Guides WPU to Split Against Clarke

Oskaloosa--The William Penn softball team returned home Wednesday and finished with a 1-1 mark in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader versus Clarke.

WPU (22-14, 6-6 Heart) won the first game 3-0, but came up short in the second contest 3-1.

After neither squad was able to score in the first two frames of the opener, the hosts broke through and did all of their damage in the bottom of the third.

William Penn managed four of its eight total hits in the inning, beginning with back-to-back singles by Tori Smith (So., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education) and Chelsey Huff (Sr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science).

Laila Pelds (Jr., Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Elementary Education) eventually drove in the game's first run on a sacrifice fly, while Ella Pierce (Sr., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management) had an RBI double and Rylee Riesberg (So., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) produced a run-scoring single.

That was more than enough for Huff, who limited the Pride (11-15, 5-9 Heart) to only three hits in a complete game shutout.  The senior finished with 12 strikeouts, while walking three.  She struck out the side in the second frame.

Huff was successful at the plate as well with three hits, while Ella Pierce tallied a pair of base knocks in addition to a walk.  Laila Smith (So., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) drew two walks as well.

Despite outhitting CU 10-7, the navy and gold scored just once in the nightcap.  Clarke put two on the board in the top of the first, but Laila Smith cut the margin in half with a solo homer in the bottom half.

Unfortunately, that was the only production the Statesmen could muster.  They put runners on base in all seven frames, including loading the pads in the seventh, but nothing came of those efforts.

The Pride, who managed seven hits, added one more insurance run in the fifth to finish off the split.

Pelds and Ella Pierce both posted three hits, while Emily Bryant (Sr., University Place, Wash., Nursing) added two more base knocks.

The Statesmen squandered what turned out to be an exceptional outing in the circle by Madie Anderson (Sr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Elementary Education).  The senior finished the outing by matching Huff with 12 strikeouts, while not allowing a base on balls.

"The Heart once again showed how tough it is," Head Coach Laura North said.  "We started off strong, but could not get anything going in the second game.  Ella Pierce and Laila Pelds both hit lights out today, but they did not have much help."

Next Up: William Penn travels to Fayette, Mo. Saturday to take on Central Methodist in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.