Nationals Trip Ends with 7-2 Loss to Auburn Montgomery
William Penn Women's Athletics
Gulf Shores, Ala.–In what could have been considered ‘Senior Day II’, the Lady Statesmen softball team played hard but finished its time at the 2012 NAIA Softball National Championships with a 7-2 loss to #17 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) Saturday.
William Penn (46-19) failed to win at the national event, but fortunately was able to keep from being shut out with big help from one of its seniors.
The Warhawks, winners of Pool H, scored twice in the top of the first and never trailed on the day. Brianne Rowley (Sr., Hood River, Ore., Blue Mountain CC) provided a massive answer, though, lifting a solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom half. Her 17th home run ties Khyia Lewis (Sr., Ottumwa, Ottumwa HS) for the school single-season record.
Five more runs were added by AUM (41-18), including three in the fourth frame. The Warhawks will now advance to face fellow Southern States Athletic Conference rival Brenau (Ga.) in the first round of the eight-team, double-elimination tournament Monday.
The Lady Statesmen had one more run up their sleeves, however, as Rowley was singled in by Ashley Stream (Sr., Chariton, Chariton HS). William Penn was outhit 15-4 with Rowley producing two base knocks and Lewis matching Stream with one.
Head Coach Mike Christner started all of his seniors with Amber Daly (Sr., Napa, Calif., Solano CC) getting the call in the circle. She had some ups and downs, striking out two in four frames to end her season at 10-3. Mariah Trujillo (Fr., Arvada, Colo., Arvada HS) made her Championships debut and tossed the final three innings, limiting the Warhawks to one run on four hits. She struck out two batters as well.
Saturday ends the collegiate careers of eight Lady Statesmen, including Daly, Christine Gamble (Pahrump, Nev., Pahrump Valley HS), Lewis, Rikki Picariello (Port Coquitlam, B.C., Olympic CC), Brittni Reyes (Vacaville, Calif., Solano CC), Athena Rosario (Bremerton, Wash., Olympic CC), Rowley, and Stream.
