William Penn Takes Down Ranked Cougars
William Penn Women's Athletics
Chicago, Ill.–Less than 24 hours after falling against the 13th-ranked team in the NAIA, the Lady Statesmen softball team regrouped well to sweep the #22 program in a non-conference double dip Saturday.
William Penn (39-14) defeated Saint Xavier 3-0 and 2-0. The Cougars (29-14) were also swept by another MCC foe Grand View on Friday.
The first pitching duel witnessed the visitors first getting on the board in the second. Khyia Lewis (Sr., Ottumwa, Ottumwa HS) led off with a single and KC Routos (Jr., Newcastle, Wash., Pierce CC) backed that up by reaching on an error. Three batters later, Ashley Kingery (Jr., Knoxville, Knoxville HS) came up with a big two-out single that plated both Lewis and Routos to make it 2-0.
Lewis, who led her team with two hits (five total for WPU), started the fourth in an even better way by pounding a double. She then scored on another two-bagger which came off the bat of Ashley Stream (Sr., Chariton, Chariton HS).
Jennifer Whitehead (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) earned her 18th win of 2012 (18-8) by surrendering just three hits in her eighth shutout. The sophomore tallied nine strikeouts against four walks.
William Penn posted another 5-3 edge in hits in its second-consecutive shutout win.
Molly Miller (Jr., Kalona, Mid-Prairie HS) started the third with a one-out walk. She touched the final base three at-bats down the road on a Stream single. Lewis matched Miller with a walk and doubled the advantage when Routos’ single brought her home.
Stream paced William Penn with two hits.
Nicole Danna (Jr., Boone, Iowa Central CC) was effective in the first four frames, giving up just two hits (one K, one BB). The junior (12-4) then handed the ball to Whitehead and the staff ace closed it out with similar precision. The southpaw earned her first save of the year in limiting the Cougars to one hit in the final three innings (two Ks, one BB).
Next: William Penn remains on the road to close out its regular season. The Lady Statesmen travel to La Crosse, Wis. Tuesday to face Viterbo in a Midwest Collegiate Conference doubleheader. Action begins at 2 p.m.
