Statesmen Split with Ravens at Neutral Site
Oskaloosa–Forced to play across the railroad tracks for the first time in years, the William Penn softball team went 1-1 against Benedictine in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday.
WPU (12-10, 5-3 Heart) won the opener 3-1, but dropped the nightcap 5-4. The games were moved to the Lacey Recreation Complex due to unplayable conditions at Penn Field.
Disregarding the new haunts, Valeria Quiroga (Jr., Brownsville, Texas, Sociology) put her team on the board first with a double to score Abby Wilson (Jr., Calgary, Alberta, Biology) in the bottom of the first frame.
The Ravens answered that run in the top of the third, but Nayely Martinez (So., Carson, Calif.) gave the navy and gold the lead for good by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the bottom half.
Lexi Resa (Sr., Liberty, Mo., Biology) then added an insurance run in the fourth with a single to plate Carla La Rosa (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management).
The hosts overcame four errors by outhitting BC 6-5. Resa and Brianna Talamantes (Fr., San Pedro, Calif., Business Management) both recorded two hits, while Quiroga added a walk to her double. Martinez and Allyson Stewart (Jr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) each drew a pair of base on balls as well.
All of that was enough for Peyton Parker (Sr., LaPorte City, Iowa, Sports Management), who was dominant in the circle. The senior worked six innings, permitting just one unearned run on five hits, while striking out two. Bianca Castillo (Jr., Rio Rico, Ariz.) tossed a scoreless seventh frame to earn the save.
WPU again drew initial blood in the second contest by taking advantage of Benedictine errors (BC had four total in the contest). Wilson and Resa touched home plate for a 2-0 advantage after one frame.
Unfortunately, the Ravens recorded four runs in the third in the third, including a bases-loaded triple. Martinez’s groundout allowed Charley Geguzis (So., Williamsburg, Iowa) to score and after the third inning, the Statesmen were down just 4-3.
Quiroga’s second double of the day tallied Wilson in the fourth to knot the score at 4-4. The tie would remain until the seventh and final inning, but BC went ahead for good on a home run. William Penn put a runner on base in the bottom half, but could not come up with the equalizer and was forced to accept a split on the day.
Outhit 7-4, the Statesmen stayed close as they committed just two errors, compared to the four for the Ravens. Stewart finished with two base knocks, while Wilson had one hit alongside two walks.
Ashton Brown (So., Ottumwa, Iowa, Mechanical Engineering) entered the game in the third and performed well in relief, allowing just one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. She struck out two batters against two walks, but was saddled with the loss.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Fayette, Mo. Sunday to face Central Methodist in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.
