Statesmen Swept by Avila in KC
William Penn University Athletics
Kansas City, Mo.–The William Penn softball team hit three home runs, but could not keep pace with its host as it was swept by Avila in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday.
The Statesmen (9-16, 1-3 Heart) lost the opener 11-3 (5 innings) and fell in the nightcap 6-4.
Marissa Pereyra (Sr., Fullerton, Calif., Exercise Science) put the navy and gold on the board with a solo home run in the second inning. The senior’s roundtripper is her second of the season.
Unfortunately, the Eagles (26-12-2, 7-3 Heart) rolled from there, including scoring nine straight (five in the third, four in the fourth).
Down 9-1 entering the fifth frame, Kodee Johnson (Jr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics) headlined a two-run top half, hitting an RBI double and later scoring. AU still closed it out via the mercy rule, though, by answering with two runs of its own in the bottom part of the fifth inning.
Johnson and Taylor Vernon (So., Tracy, Calif., Ripon HS) each tallied two hits as WPU was outhit 13-8.
Chyanne Koko (So., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) was saddled with the loss, while Shelby Allender (Fr., Mount Pleasant, Iowa, Communications) posted a strikeout as she made her collegiate debut.
The home team went on top 2-0 after three frames of the second matchup, but the Statesmen responded with three runs. Hayley Freestone (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) start the fourth with a solo home run (her first one in college) and Koko matched her in the next at-bat with her program-leading third homer.
Kayla Browning (Jr., Spring Valley, Calif., Biology) then put WPU ahead as she touched home plate in the fifth on Avila’s lone error.
The Eagles unfortunately took the lead for good in the bottom half, though, with four runs to make it 6-3. The Statesmen, who outhit the hosts 11-6, attempted to make it interesting in the seventh with one run as Koko doubled in Freestone, but that was all they could produce.
Hayley Freestone (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, while Koko was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Johnson and Browning both managed two hits.
Tabitha Scott (Fr., Placentia, Calif., Psychology) struck out two batters and also walked two; she only permitted three earned runs in her six-inning outing.
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa Sunday to face Buena Vista (noon) and Dubuque (2 p.m.) as part of the Central Tournament. Games will be played at Lacey Complex.
