Statesmen Sweep Calumet-St. Joseph in High-Scoring Double Dip
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The William Penn baseball team needed two late-inning rallies to sweep Calumet-St. Joseph in a non-conference doubleheader Sunday.
The Statesmen (3-1) won the opener 19-14 and the nightcap 7-5. Cold temperatures that barely reached 40 degrees, combined with a consistent breeze, posed problems for both squads, especially on the defensive end. The teams committed a total of 14 errors, including ten in the first contest.
The home team gave up a run in the top of the first inning, but roared back with six of its own in the bottom half. Both scored once in the second frame, but the Crimson Wave (1-3) had a huge third with nine runs to lead 11-7.
Still trailing 14-8 entering the bottom of the fifth inning, the Statesmen finished extremely strong with five in the fifth and six more in the sixth to take the lead back for good. William Penn was outhit 13-11, but overcame that by drawing nine walks and by being hit by pitch six more times.
Stan Simmons (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y., Physical Education) was 3-for-4 and recorded three runs and two RBIs, while Brian Williams (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Physical Education) tallied a pair of two-run base knocks en route to four RBIs and three runs scored. Enrique Alvarado (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology) was 2-for-5 with two runs as well, while Kyle Mauricio (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn., Physical Education) and Joel Medina (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Sociology) each crossed home plate three times.
Corey Lathram (So., Brentwood, Calif.) claimed the win out of relief, giving up three runs (all earned) on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out seven batters against one walk.
Game Two witnessed another great start by the navy and gold. William Penn led 4-0 after three frames, but C-SJ answered back with all five of its runs in the fourth.
Fortunately the hosts, who held a 7-6 advantage in hits, had the last laugh with a run in the fifth inning to knot the contest at 5-5. Roy Perez (Jr., Avondale, Ariz., Physical Education) then put his team on top in the sixth with an eventual game-winning two-run double. William Penn overcame three fielding errors.
Medina guided the offensive effort by going 2-for-2 (both triples) with three RBIs. He matched a single-game program record with the pair of three-bag hits.
Starter Jared Shoning (Fr., Des Moines, Iowa, Business Management) struck out six in 3 2/3 innings, but it was Jayme Mueller (Sr., Mundelein, Ill., Sociology) who received the win. The senior, who tossed the other 3 1/3 frames, also managed six Ks in a two-hit shutout.
Next: William Penn travels to Hannibal, Mo. next Friday and Saturday for a pair of non-conference doubleheaders. Friday’s play starts at 1 p.m., while Saturday’s twinbill begins at 2 p.m.
