Lady Statesmen Remain Perfect at Lacey Complex
William Penn Women's Athletics
Oskaloosa–The William Penn softball team continues to own its competition when playing just west of its home field, winning twice on the first day of the Midwest Collegiate Conference Weekend Saturday.
The Lady Statesmen (19-11, 7-1 MCC) extended their winning streak to four games by defeating Clarke 8-0 (5 innings) and Iowa Wesleyan 2-1. The navy and gold have yet to lose in ten games hosted at the Lacey Complex over the past three years.
Khyia Lewis (Sr., Ottumwa, Ottumwa HS) cleared the center field fence to give William Penn a 2-0 first inning lead against Clarke. Molly Miller (Jr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) also scored on the hit.
The ‘home’ team concluded its scoring with a massive six-run showing in the second, highlighted by another Lewis shot. The senior rounded the bases the second time with a three-run shot. Lewis is now tied with Brianne Rowley (Sr., Hood River, Ore., Blue Mountain CC) for the team lead with seven homers.
Rowley posted a two-run double one at-bat earlier, while KC Routos (Jr., Newcastle, Wash., Pierce CC) came home on a single by Ashley Kingery (Jr., Knoxville, Knoxville HS) to start the frame’s scoring.
The Lady Statesmen outhit Clarke 10-4, including two each by Miller, Lewis, Routos, and Brittni Reyes (Sr., Vacaville, Calif., Solano CC).
Jennifer Whitehead (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) improved to 8-6 with the four-hit shutout, her second of the season. The sophomore southpaw struck out eight without a walk.
The offensive well unfortunately dried up in the second game as Sierra Garcia limited William Penn to just two base knocks. Nicole Danna (Jr., Boone, Iowa Central CC) was also stiff competition, though, in holding the Tigers to only three hits.
The navy and gold took its first and only lead in the third inning when Miller reached on an infield single. The hit allowed Athena Rosario (Sr., Bremerton, Wash., Olympic CC) to score the first run, but a throwing error on the play allowed Kingery to also touch home plate to make it 2-0.
Iowa Wesleyan responded with a run of its own in the bottom half, but failed to come up with the tying run in the final four frames.
Danna (7-3) had four strikeouts against one walk in the victory.
Next: William Penn returns to the Lacey Complex Sunday to conclude the MCC Weekend. The Lady Statesmen open with Waldorf at 11 a.m. before facing Grand View at 1:15 p.m.
