William Penn Falls 5-4 Twice to SAU
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Davenport–The Statesmen softball team was narrowly defeated twice by St. Ambrose in a Midwest Collegiate Conference doubleheader Wednesday.
WPU (7-16, 3-3 MCC) lost by a score of 5-4 in both the first and second game. The Queen Bees improved to 7-10-1 overall (2-4 MCC).
The visitors claimed the early lead in the opener with a run in each of the first two frames. Bri Zerley (Sr., Monroe, Iowa, Biology) started it off with an RBI single to drive in Brittanee Grove (Sr., Runnells, Iowa, Elementary Education), while Gabrielle Braniff (So., Olympia, Wash., General Accounting) left the park for her second home run of the year.
SAU answered back with three runs in the fourth, but the navy and gold battled right back with two tallies in the sixth with a run-scoring double by Sydney Edwards (Sr., Galesburg, Ill., Psychology & Biology) and an RBI single from Grove.
Unfortunately, starting pitcher Paige Miguel (Jr., Hollister, Calif., Exercise Science) could not hold off the home team in the bottom of the seventh as it scored two runs for the win. Miguel (0-4) allowed four earned runs on nine hits, while striking out three against three walks.
Braniff was 3-for-4 as WPU managed 12 hits. Grove and Zerley both finished 2-for-3 as well. The Statesmen could not overcome four errors.
The defensive effort did not improve in the nightcap (six errors), but that failed to keep WPU from giving St. Ambrose a good run.
Grove, who also pitched the second contest, helped her own cause as she tied up the game in the third with a solo home run–her first of the spring.
The Queen Bees responded with four runs in the fourth, but WPU had considerable fight left by producing three in the top of the fifth to make the score 5-4 in favor of SAU. Breanna Armiento (Sr., Madera, Calif., Human Services and Biology) highlighted the inning with an RBI single. The senior also walked twice in the setback. Chyanne Koko (Fr., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) matched Armiento with a hit and two walks.
Courtesy of three walks, WPU loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but was unable to bring in the tying run.
Each side finished with seven hits; Grove topped the Statesmen with a 3-for-4 performance (two runs scored). In the circle, Grove (3-5) gave up four earned runs as she struck out three and walked one.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Clinton Thursday to face Ashford in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m.
