Long First Inning Stops Statesmen in 8-6 Loss to Viterbo
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Stanley Muller (Sr., Tucson, Ariz., Cochise CC) looked like he was taking batting practice Sunday, but his one-man show was not enough to get William Penn over the hump in an 8-6 loss to Viterbo in Midwest Collegiate Conference play.
Muller finished 5-for-6, tying a school single-game mark for hits (since 1999). The junior had three singles, two doubles, and scored three times.
Twelve runners left on base was too much to overcome, however.
A day after holding its opposition scoreless through 14 frames, William Penn (10-12, 4-2 MCC) gave up four runs in the first inning Sunday.
Brad McGuire (Jr., Covina, Calif., Citrus CC) entered in relief after only one out had been recorded and was superb out of the bullpen. The junior gave up four runs (three earned) in a lengthy 8 2/3-inning stint. He scattered 13 hits in his performance, while striking out five and walking one.
McGuire stopped the bleeding at 4-0 in the initial inning, and while it seemed like there was no chance of it being a navy and gold day, the offense returned the favor to the V-Hawks in the bottom half.
Despite only tallying two hits, the Statesmen manufactured three runs with some help from a tough showing by the V-Hawk starter.
Muller started it all by coming home on a wild pitch. Nick Kirby (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Antelope Valley CC) was then plated on a sacrifice fly by Evelio Ahumada (Sr., Hacienda Heights, Calif., Citrus CC).
Brad Chin (Sr., San Rafael, Calif., San Rafael HS) capped the frame by scoring on a single by Jayme Mueller (Jr., Mundelein, Ill., College of Lake County CC).
Viterbo (3-13, 1-4 MCC) responded by scoring the next two more runs to make it 6-3 entering the sixth, but a single in the bottom half by Randall Packard (Sr., Forestville, Calif., Cal State-Monterey) tallied Muller to cut it back to 6-4.
The visitors had two more runs come their way in the seventh and eighth to double up the navy and gold at 8-4.
Watching its opportunities fading away, William Penn battled back in the eighth and scored twice. Packard doubled in Muller and Ahumada’s one-bagger brought in Chin. Unfortunately, some poor base-running ended the inning and the squad went out quietly in the ninth.
The programs combined for 29 hits (16-13 VU). Packard was 2-for-3, while Mueller finished 2-for-4.
Next: William Penn travels to Mount Pleasant Tuesday to face MCC foe Iowa Wesleyan in a nine-inning game at 4 p.m.
