Overly Leads WPU to Home-Opening Split
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–It looks like Logan Overly (Sr., Oakley, Calif., Secondary Education) is getting quite comfortable in his new role as a starting pitcher as he assisted the Statesmen baseball team in splitting a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader against Benedictine (Kan.) Saturday.
The Statesmen (12-5, 3-1 Heart) won the first game 2-0, but fell in the second contest 4-1.
Overly, who is now 2-0, gave up just three hits over 6 2/3 innings. The senior, who was WPU’s closer last year, struck out four Benedictine (9-15, 1-3 Heart) batters and walked only one in a near complete game shutout. He allowed just three runners to get into scoring position. Anthony York (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education) then came in and closed it out for his second save of the spring.
Overly’s effort was almost for naught, however, as WPU and BC were scoreless entering the bottom of the fifth. The navy and gold, who outhit the Ravens 6-3, finally put the day’s first run on the scoreboard when York singled home J.P. Rios (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management).
Robert Phiakeo (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management) then doubled the advantage by scoring on an error in the sixth. Six different Statesmen had one hit each in the victory.
William Penn overcame three fielding errors in the opener, but similar mistakes were too much in the nine-inning matchup. The home squad committed a season-high five errors and also lost the hits column 9-4.
Yet, despite both of those facts, the team was knotted at 1-1 through four innings. WPU’s lone run was scored by Johnny Valdez (Jr., San Jacinto, Calif., Business Management) in the fourth. Unfortunately, the team could not muster any more offense, while BC scored twice in the fifth and once more in the seventh.
William Vazquez (Jr., North Hollywood, Calif., General Accounting) recorded two hits to guide the offense.
Dakota Herman (Fr., Woodland Park, Colo., Biology) managed five strikeouts in six innings of work (just one earned run), while Brian Harrity (Fr., Castle Rock, Colo., Software Engineering) added three more strikeouts in three innings out of the bullpen. Herman falls to 1-1 in 2016.
“We pitched really well today, well enough to give us a chance to win despite a tough day at the plate and in the field,” Head Coach Mike Laird said.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Peru, Neb. next Tuesday to face Peru State in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
