Rallies Fall Short as Statesmen Swept by Avila
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–The William Penn baseball team never gave up Friday, but unfortunately its late-inning efforts were not enough to get it past Avila in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader.
The Statesmen (13-8, 4-4 Heart) were swept by scores of 2-0 and 11-10 (10 innings).
WPU gave up two runs in the first inning of the opener and failed to deliver an answer. The hosts placed runners in scoring position in both the first and second, but then went fairly cold in the middle innings before making a push in the final frame.
Fortunately, Logan Overly (Sr., Oakley, Calif., Secondary Education) was also able to keep the Eagles (13-16, 5-3 Heart) quiet after the first as the deficit remained two runs.
With two outs already recorded in the bottom of the seventh, William Vazquez (Jr., North Hollywood, Calif., General Accounting) managed a single to get things going. Johnny Valdez (Jr., San Jacinto, Calif., Business Management) then added a double to put the tying run in scoring position.
Unfortunately, the rally ended there as the Statesmen were outhit 4-3. Overly finished with five strikeouts against three walks in falling to 2-1 on the season.
William Penn dug itself another hole in the nightcap, falling behind 6-1 entering the bottom of the fourth inning.
The visitors slowly chipped away with a run in both the fourth and fifth and then tacked on two more in the sixth courtesy of a two-run home run by Valdez (his team-leading third). AU came up with the game’s next two runs, though, to lead 8-5 in the eighth.
The Statesmen refused to wave the flag of surrender, managing two runs in the bottom half. Again, however, the Eagles extended their lead with two in the top of the ninth.
With its back against the wall down 10-7, WPU somehow recorded another inspiring two-out rally to force extras. The team actually had a chance to win it in regulation, but Valdez, who represented the winning run, was tagged out at the plate for the third out.
Unfortunately, Avila put its 11th and final run on the board in the 10th and the navy and gold could not match it.
Cory Russell (Jr., El Cajon, Calif., Education) matched Valdez by also homering in the second game (his second). The Statesmen were outhit 15-13 and committed two more errors (5-3) than the Eagles.
Colton Johnson (Jr., Westminster, Calif., Physical Education) paced his crew by going 3-for-5 with three RBIs. His two-run single in the ninth tied the game at 10-10. Marcus Littleton (Jr., Norwalk, Iowa, Communications), with three runs scored, and Robert Phiakeo (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management) were both 2-for-4. Valdez (2 R, 2 RBIs) and Anthony York (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education) (2 R) tallied a pair of base knocks as well in the extra-inning setback.
Dakota Herman (Fr., Woodland Park, Colo., Biology) was roughed up a bit in an up-and-down 5 1/3-inning start, while relievers Jacob Davidson (Sr., Bloomfield, Iowa, Psychology and Sociology) (1 2/3 innings) and Trent Barnett (Fr., Eddyville, Iowa, Accounting) also had some positives and negatives in their outings. Barnett, who took the loss in his Statesmen debut, struck out four batters in three frames out of the bullpen.
Next Up: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa Saturday, hosting #13 MidAmerica Nazarene in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
