Statesmen Split First Two Double Dips of Spring Break
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Daytona/Lakeland, Florida–Behind stellar throwing by Jennifer Whitehead (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Biology), the William Penn softball team split the first two doubleheaders of its spring break trip Monday and Tuesday.
William Penn (4-2) opened with a 7-0 win over Embry-Riddle, but then fell 3-0 in the nightcap. On Tuesday, the navy and gold defeated Southeastern 3-1, but again lost the second game 3-0.
William Penn 7, Embry-Riddle 0
Whitehead, who began her season with a no-hitter against Cardinal Stritch on February 14, tossed a one-hitter against the Eagles. She struck out four and walked one in the victory.
Sydney Edwards (Jr., Galesburg, Ill., Psychology & Biology) put her team on the board in the second. The junior tripled and then scored to make it 1-0.
Jorden Steele (Jr., Tacoma, Wash., Physical Education) double the advantage in the third with a lead-off home run–her first as a Statesmen. A double later in the inning by Steviee Grove (Sr., Runnells, Iowa, History/Government) added two more to the tally.
Brittanee Grove (Jr., Runnells, Iowa, Elementary Education) matched her sister with a double in the fourth to tack on another run, while two seventh-inning runs capped the game’s scoring.
Edwards finished 2-for-3 (one walk), while Malloree Grove (Sr., Runnells, Iowa, Physical Education) and Bri Zerley (Jr., Monroe, Iowa, Biology) were both 2-for-4. Zerley touched home plate twice in the opener. William Penn dominated with a 12-1 advantage in hits.
Embry-Riddle 3, William Penn 0
The bats went cold in the second contest with E-R holding a 9-6 hits margin over WPU. Zerley paced the way with a 2-for-3 showing.
The Statesmen had ample opportunities to break through, getting runners in scoring position in five-straight innings (2nd-6th), but failed to bring anyone around.
Lunden Young (Jr., Lewiston, Idaho, Physical Education) was tagged with all three runs (all earned) on six hits through 3 2/3 innings. The junior (1-1) struck out two batters against two walks.
Brittanee Grove relieved her in the fourth and kept William Penn within striking distance by shutting out the home squad. She allowed just three hits in 2 1/3 frames (1 K, 1 BB).
William Penn 3, Southeastern 1
With Whitehead again toeing the rubber for the opener against Southeastern, WPU outhit the Fire 10-2.
Zerley, who was 3-for-4, led off the second with a double and later scored on an error. Malloree Grove started the next inning with a double and scored on a single by Brittany Skoien (Jr., Glendale, Calif., Elementary Education). Skoien then advanced to second on an error and scored on Brittanee Grove’s single.
Malloree Grove was perfect at the plate (4-for-4).
Southeastern cut the difference to 3-1 in the fourth inning, but Whitehead gave the hosts little else to work with. The senior (3-0) permitted just one run (earned) on two hits. She recorded three strikeouts with three walks, and only allowed three runners to get into scoring position.
Southeastern 3, William Penn 0
Tuesday concluded with a pitcher’s duel as the squads combined for only six base knocks (4-2 SU). WPU put runners on in each of the final five frames, but could not break through. The Fire scored once in the third off of Brittanee Grove and twice more in the fifth.
Grove pitched well enough to claim the win, but just did not receive enough offensive support. The junior (0-1) gave up three runs (one earned) on four hits. Her day included three strikeouts with one walk.
Next: William Penn travels to Lake Wales, Fla. Wednesday for a pair of single games. The Statesmen first face Bluefield (Va.) at 11 a.m. and then meet host Warner at 3 p.m. (Central)
