Statesmen Split Season Opener Against Crimson Wave
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Weather upstaged the game Saturday as the William Penn baseball team opened its 2013 season by splitting a non-conference doubleheader against Calumet-St. Joseph (Ind.).
On a day where the temperatures never moved above freezing, the Statesmen (1-1) lost the opener 11-1, but rebounded with a 7-3 win in the nightcap.
The Crimson Wave (1-1) scored two runs in the first and then tacked on three more before Stan Simmons (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y., Physical Education) recorded an infield single in the sixth frame to bring home pinchrunner Austin Westercamp (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Undecided) with the lone navy and gold run.
William Penn was outhit 12-6 in the first contest with Kyle Mauricio (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn., Physical Education) leading the way by going 2-for-3. Danny Erece (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education) could not overcome a tough first inning to take the loss. The senior struck out four batters in three innings of work.
The visitors again jumped out on top 2-0 in Game Two, but the hosts finally broke out with four runs in the second. The Statesmen, who owned a 9-3 edge in hits, continued to roll with one more run in the third and two more in the fourth.
Roy Perez (Jr., Avondale, Ariz., Physical Education) was perfect at the plate (2-for-2), while Brian Williams (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Physical Education) and Ricky Alvarez (Sr., Sylmar, Calif., Sociology) both finished 2-for-3. Enrique Alvarado (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology) and pinchrunner Nathan Wood (Sr., Tucson, Ariz., Business Management) also each managed to cross home plate two times in the victory.
Kyle Bixler (Jr., Columbia Heights, Minn., Psychology) claimed the win, striking out seven in four frames. Kyle Maldonado (Jr., Centerville, Iowa, Physical Education) earned the save by limiting Calumet-St. Joseph to only one hit in three innings (3 Ks).
Next: William Penn will conclude its weekend series against C-SJ Sunday with a doubleheader that starts at 11 a.m.
