WPU Takes One of Three in Rain-Shortened Weekend
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–William Penn and Central Methodist almost beat Mother Nature over the weekend, but before bowing out due to unplayable field conditions, the teams managed to put three in the books as part of a Heart of America Athletic Conference baseball set.
The Statesmen (18-12, 9-8 Heart) were swept in Saturday’s double dip, 7-3 and 11-7, but rebounded for a come-from-behind 7-6 win in Sunday’s opener. Unfortunately, a bit too much rain fell at the start of the second game and it was called in the second inning. The contest will be concluded later this spring.
Central Methodist 7, WPU 3
The hosts scored immediately as Robert Phiakeo (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management) doubled home Colton Johnson (Jr., Westminster, Calif., Physical Education) in the first inning.
The Eagles (25-13, 10-7 Heart) answered with two in the top of the fifth, but WPU got both of those runs back in the bottom half. Johnny Valdez (Jr., San Jacinto, Calif., Business Management) first scored on a sacrifice fly by J.P. Rios (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Business Management) and Johnson again touched home plate on a double by Anthony York (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education).
The remainder of the matchup went to CMU, however, as the visitors put one across in the sixth to tie it up and four in the seventh to pull away. Central Methodist owned a 10-6 edge in hits, while the navy and gold also could not overcome three errors.
Dylan McDonald (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Industrial Technology) produced five solid innings on the mound (two runs on four hits), including two strikeouts with two walks, but did not figure into the decision.
Central Methodist 11, WPU 7
The Eagles recorded the nightcap’s first four runs, but WPU answered with one each in the third and fourth. Rios singled home Valdez for the first run and Phiakeo rounded the pads for the second tally.
A seven-run fifth inning by CMU unfortunately doomed the Statesmen in a game where they were outhit 18-11. WPU produced the final five runs, but it was too little in the end.
York finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Daniel Macias (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education) was 2-for-2 and Valdez was 2-for-3 (both scored twice). Rios and Dominik Sawyer (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., Psychology and Human Services) matched York with two RBIs each.
Logan Overly (Sr., Oakley, Calif., Secondary Education) struck out five (one walk) in a rough start that lasted 4 2/3 innings. Marshall Siordia (Sr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology and Psychology) had three Ks and two BBs out of the bullpen.
WPU 7, Central Methodist 6
William Penn was on the verge of falling yet again, but a huge last-inning comeback set the squad back on the winning track.
Both sides scored two runs in the first with Rios coming around on Johnson’s two-bagger and Johnson touching home on a single via Cory Russell (Jr., El Cajon, Calif., Education). Marcus Littleton (Jr., Norwalk, Iowa, Communications) was then pushed across in the second on a Rios single.
The 3-2 advantage held until the sixth inning when the visitors tied the score. Central Methodist then recaptured the edge with three runs in the seventh to force WPU against the proverbial wall.
The Statesmen showed no fear, opening the seventh with four consecutive singles to narrow the deficit to one at 6-5. Then, with the bases loaded, Valdez donned the hero’s hat with a walk-off single to the left-center gap to drive in Johnson and York (Macias and Rios scored earlier as well).
William Penn was a bit better at the dish with an 11-9 advantage in hits. Rios was 3-for-4 (two runs), while Johnson, York, and Russell each posted a pair of hits. Johnson drove in two runs and scored two times, and Valdez finished with two RBIs.
Tyler Martinez (Sr., San Diego, Calif., Sociology) permitted a first-inning home run and had some troubles late, but was superb in the middle of the game to collect the complete game victory. The senior managed five strikeouts versus one walk to improve to 3-1 this year.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Baldwin City, Kan. Tuesday to face Baker in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
