Statesmen Drop to Consolation Bracket in Opening Round Tourney
William Penn Softball 2014
Columbia, Ky.–The William Penn softball team will have to battle back from the loser’s bracket after falling 14-0 in five innings to #2 seed Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round Monday.
The third-seeded Statesmen (36-19) were outhit just 9-4, but two grand slams were more than enough to sink the squad. WPU will now try to stay alive, facing #4 Cornerstone (Mich.) Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. (Central) in an elimination game. The winner of that contest will meet the loser of the LWU-#1 Saint Xavier (Ill.) game at 4 p.m.
After a scoreless first inning, the Raiders (46-9) got on the board with six runs in the second. Jennifer Whitehead (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Biology) shut down LWU in the third, but the #2 seed responded with four more runs in both the fourth and fifth frames.
Whitehead fell to 26-9 with the loss, giving up ten runs (all earned) on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. She struck out seven batters with five walks and permitted grand slams in the second and fourth.
Lunden Young (Jr., Lewiston, Idaho, Physical Education) relieved the senior in the fourth, but also had struggles, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits in 1 1/3 innings. She managed one strikeout against one walk.
Malloree Grove (Sr., Runnells, Iowa, Physical Education) guided the offense by going 2-for-3, while Jorden Steele (Jr., Tacoma, Wash., Physical Education) and Ashlee Dennis (Jr., Loveland, Colo., Biology) were both 1-for-2.
