Quiroga Extends Home Run Streak as WPU Splits with Mustangs

Cedar Rapids–The Statesmen softball team found enough offense and pitching to record a doubleheader split against Mount Mercy in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Sunday.

William Penn (8-8, 2-2 Heart) lost the opener 7-2, but picked up the win in the second outing 4-2.

After hitting three consecutive home runs the day before, Valeria Quiroga (Fr., San Benito, Texas, Sociology) unbelievably pushed that streak to four to begin Saturday’s action. After Lexi Resa (Jr., Liberty, Mo., Biology) reached on a one-out single in the top of the first, Quiroga lifted a shot over the left-field fence, her team-best seventh of 2021, to make it 2-0 in favor of the visitors.

Although she did not leave the park again on Saturday, Quiroga’s streak of reaching base was extended to six in the first game as she was intentionally walked in the third and then drew a traditional base on balls in the sixth.

The navy and gold loaded the bases in the sixth, but could not add another tally. Conversely, Mount Mercy tied the matchup in the bottom of the first, took the lead for good in the third, and added four more runs later on (three in the sixth). WPU lost the hits category 11-4.

Of the three pitchers WPU utilized, Peyton Parker (Jr., LaPorte City, Iowa, Sports Management) had the best numbers. The junior permitted just one earned run on five hits in three innings; she also struck out two and walked one.

Although they were outhit 12-9 in the nightcap, the Statesmen were more effective in moving runners around the pads, including scoring three in the first.

Nayely Martinez (Fr., Carson, Calif.) opened the bout with a single and was moved to second on a walk drawn by Quiroga. Lexi Riccardi (Sr., Redwood City, Calif., Biology) then drove in Martinez with a double, while Quiroga completed her trip around the bases on a single by Rachael Haessly (Jr., Alpine, Calif., Biology).

Jayde Tucker (So., Los Alamos, N.M.) ended the first at 3-0 as she connected on a single that plated Riccardi as well.

The Mustangs answered with one run in the bottom half, but the visitors took that run back in the third as Rebecca De Leon (Fr., Ceres, Calif.) doubled and later scored via a single by Charley Geguzis (Fr., Williamsburg, Iowa).

The navy and gold had runners in scoring position in several other innings, but could not string together enough offense to add to their total. Individually, Quiroga’s streak of reaching base extended to nine straight at-bats (single in the second, walk in the fourth) before it was finally snapped with a groundout in the sixth.

MMU scored its second and final run in the fifth, but both teams had issues finishing off frames as each ended up with 11 baserunners left on base.

Kelsey Lint (Fr., Brooklyn, Iowa, Elementary Education) managed to keep the Mustangs at bay as she scattered Mount Mercy’s 12 hits over a complete-game effort. The freshman struck out four with three walks in the victory.

“We struggled in the first game, but battled back for a solid second contest,” Head Coach Mike Christner said. “Kelsey Lint threw well and we got enough timely hits to salvage the split.”

Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Sunday to host Clarke in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.