Lady Statesmen Notch First Victory to Open Spring Break
William Penn Women's Athletics
Tucson, Ariz.–It has taken the William Penn softball team a little time to warm up, but now that it has claimed win #1, hopefully it will spur continued success in the southwest.
The Lady Statesmen (1-5) opened their annual Spring Break trip Sunday with an 8-6 loss to Robert Morris (Ill.), but rebounded with a 7-0 victory over Calumet-St. Joseph (Ind.).
A poor defensive effort led to the team’s demise against the Eagles as the navy and gold committed seven errors.
The team actually led 2-1 after 5 1/2 frames, including an RBI single by Christine Gamble (Sr., Pahrump, Nev., Pahrump Valley HS) that brought home Brailey Freed (Jr., Loveland, Colo., Otero CC).
Unfortunately, the defensive wheels came off in the bottom of the sixth inning. Robert Morris took the lead for good with seven runs on just four hits. The Lady Statesmen misplayed five balls, leading to the big inning.
The squad battled back in the seventh, however, beginning with an RBI single via Athena Rosario (Sr., Bremerton, Wash., Olympic CC). Ashley Kingery (Jr., Knoxville, Knoxville HS) added a two-run double, while Ashley Stream (Sr., Chariton, Chariton HS) concluded the scoring with another RBI single.
William Penn outhit its foe 7-6, headlined by a 2-for-3 showing by Cassie Lohman (Jr., Burbank, Calif., Providence HS).
Jennifer Whitehead (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) took the loss to fall to 0-3. She failed to strike out anyone against two walks.
The late-inning success was carried over into the night’s second game. The Lady Statesmen pounded out nine hits, while Nicole Danna (Jr., Boone, Iowa Central CC) tossed a one-hit gem for her first win as a part of the program.
The navy and gold scored three runs in the first with RBI base knocks from Brianne Rowley (Sr., Hood River, Ore., Blue Mountain CC) and Gamble and a sacrifice fly by Khyia Lewis (Sr., Ottumwa, Ottumwa HS).
The advantage ballooned to five in the second courtesy of an RBI groundout by Rowley and a single by Lewis.
The final two tallies were produced in the fifth as Brittni Reyes (Sr., Vacaville, Calif., Solano CC) singled in a run and Stream doubled in another.
Rowley was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Reyes finished 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run. Stream scored twice.
Danna struck out 11 Calumet-St. Joseph batters (no walks).
Next: The Lady Statesmen play another twinbill Monday, facing Judson (Ill.) at 2:30 p.m. and Great Falls (Mont.) at 4:30 p.m. (times are CST).
