WPU Bounces Back with Run-Rule Win After Falling to No. 14 Madonna

Rosemont, Ill.– The William Penn softball team returned to action Friday at the Rosemont Dome Tournament, taking on Madonna (Mich.) and Cornerstone (Mich.).

The Statesmen (1-2) fell to No. 14 Madonna (3-0) in the opener 7-2, before bouncing back with a dominant 8-0, five-inning shutout over Cornerstone (1-2) in the day’s nightcap.

Madonna 7, WPU 2

WPU had a quiet start, being held scoreless through the first six innings, while the Crusaders seized early momentum, plating three runs in the top of the first.

Madonna added to its lead with runs in the third and fifth innings, extending its advantage to 5-0.

In the top of the sixth inning, Jessica Lathrop (So., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) trimmed the Crusaders’ lead with an RBI triple, driving in Maci Rutledge (So., Chadron, Neb., Nursing) to get the Statesmen on the board.

Leah Conlon (Fr., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science) produced a run with a groundout, bringing home Lathrop to trim the deficit to 5-2.

WPU was unfortunately unable to generate any further offense, while Madonna answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the 7-2 final.

Eva Viox (So., Columbia, Mo., Exercise Science) also contributed for William Penn with a double and a stolen base, while Laila Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) recorded the team’s other double.

WPU 8, Cornerstone 0

Tori Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education) paced the Statesmen earned the shutout victory with five strikeouts, while surrendering just three hits. She also made an impact at the plate, adding an RBI and scoring a run.

Conlon tripled to center field in the third, driving in Tori Smith, Laila Smith, and Mckenna Vasser (Fr., Rochester, Wash., Business Management) to give William Penn a commanding 3-0 lead.

The Statesmen added four more in the fourth inning, with the first two runs scoring when Viox and Marin Frazee (Jr., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science) both crossed the plate via an error, extending the lead to 5-0.

The scoring continued in the fourth as Laila Smith lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Laila Gutierrez (Jr., Seminole, Texas, Business Management). Later in the inning, Vasser scored on another CU error.

Frazee then capped the win with a double to left field, driving in Viox to push the Statesmen ahead 8-0.

“Honestly, I was very disappointed in our defensive performance against #14 Madonna,” Head Coach Laura North said. “Our two freshmen pitchers – Hitchner and Van Rheenen, came out and competed and only gave up 2 earned runs total.”

“Our veterans need to back them up better than that,” North added. “Had we played cleaner defense, the game could’ve had a different result. On the positive side we have some young players stepping up where we need it. It’s early, so if we can all get going and in sync, big things can be accomplished. I challenged them pretty hard after the loss and they responded well. Proud of the entire team effort in the run-rule win over a very good Cornerstone team. Tori pitched a gem and our offense was electric.”

Up Next: William Penn remains in Rosemont for day three of the Rosemont Dome Tournament and is scheduled to face Mount Mary at 8 a.m., followed by a matchup with Indiana Wesleyan at 10 a.m.