Softball Splits Pair with Waldorf
Lady Statesmen Softball in Action on April 13th, 2011
Oskaloosa–The Lady Statesmen softball team was able to get plenty of timely hits and important defensive stops in the opener to earn a doubleheader split against Midwest Collegiate Conference foe Waldorf Wednesday.
William Penn (27-12, 8-6 MCC) won the opener 8-0 (5 innings), but fell 3-2 in the nightcap.
Despite being outhit 8-7 in both games, the Lady Statesmen found ways to score in the first matchup, starting with one run in the first.
Ashley Nieto (Jr., Cement City, Mich., Jackson CC) led off with a single and was promptly sacrificed to second by Molly Miller (So., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS). That set up an RBI double by Brianne Rowley (Jr., Hood River, Ore., Blue Mountain CC).
William Penn was advantageous in the second. Although it tallied just two hits, the team was helped by two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and an error as five players rounded the bases to make it 6-0 after two frames.
Amanda Christenson (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) and Brittni Reyes (Jr., Vacaville, Calif., Solano CC) led off the third with a double and single, respectively, and both touched the final base to put the Lady Statesmen in position for the mercy-rule win.
The team then had to show it could play defense and it succeeded by helping Jennifer Whitehead (Fr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) out of jams in four frames, including two bases-loaded situations.
Nieto (2-for-2) and Reyes (2-for-3) led the hosts at the plate, while Rowley managed three RBIs. Nieto, Christenson, and Reyes all scored twice.
Whitehead scattered eight hits in her fifth shutout of the season. The freshman (14-6) walked one in the win.
The squads switch roles for the second contest with Waldorf (17-15, 9-7 MCC) finding ways to get on the board. The Warriors, who entered the day with 57 homers, recorded a two-run roundtripper in the second and had three consecutive two-out singles in the fifth for another run to pull out to a 3-0 edge.
Facing its final three outs with only three hits to show for the first six innings, William Penn was all but cooked going into the bottom of the seventh.
The squad showed no quit, though, putting the first two runners on base with a single by Ashley Stream (Jr., Chariton, Chariton HS) and an error by the Waldorf outfield to allow Christine Gamble (Jr., Pahrump, Nev., Pahrump Valley HS) to reach.
A Reyes one-bagger loaded the bases with only one out and Brittany Labbe (So., Burbank, Calif., Providence HS) moved everyone ahead one base with an RBI pinch-hit single.
Andrea Rensberger (Sr., Sioux City, Sioux City North HS) then drew a walk to bring home another run to make it 3-2 in favor of the Warriors. Unfortunately, with the tying run only 60 feet away (winning run was 120 feet away), back-to-back popouts concluded the game.
Reyes again guided William Penn with a 2-for-3 performance.
Amber Daly (Jr., Napa, Calif., Solano CC) was saddled with the loss to drop to 12-5 this spring. The junior gave up three runs (two earned) on eight hits. She finished with two strikeouts and one base on balls.
Next: William Penn travels to Morrison, Ill. for the second of two MCC Weekends. On Saturday, the Lady Statesmen face Grand View at 1:15 p.m. and Waldorf at 3:30 p.m. On Sunday, William Penn takes on St. Ambrose at 11 a.m. and Mount Mercy at 1:15 p.m.
