Statesmen Claim Three More Victories Before Leaving Arizona

William Penn University Athletics

Tucson, Ariz.–The William Penn softball program ended the Tucson Invitational Games with a trio of wins in its last two days.

On Tuesday, WPU (12-7) defeated Newbury 6-3 and Dordt 5-2. Then on Wednesday, the navy and gold lost 8-3 to Concordia (Neb.), but rebounded to drop Jamestown 6-5. William Penn finished the week with an 8-2 record.

WPU 6, Newbury 3

The Statesmen, who narrowly outhit their foes 8-7, overcame three errors in the win. Down 2-0 right away, William Penn rallied with five unanswered runs, including putting four on the board in the third inning.

Taylor Vernon (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Ripon HS) guided the offense by finishing 2-for-2 with three RBIs. Jenny Navarro (Jr., Bellflower, Calif., Elementary Education) was also 2-for-2 (two RBIs) as was Emily Brown (Jr., Waverly, Iowa, Biology).

Chyanne Koko (Jr., Waianae, Hawaii, Physical Education) rounded the bases on two occasions.

Brittany Ensley (Fr., Harrisburg, Ore., Exercise Science) worked a complete game for the ‘W’, giving up just two earned runs. The freshman had three strikeouts versus three walks.

WPU 5, Dordt 2

WPU was again just a bit better at the plate with 8-7 edge in hits. The squad scored twice in the first and then had another two-run frame in the third.

Koko and Michelle Castro (Fr., Acampo, Calif., Business Management) each recorded two hits and scored twice, while Brown matched the duo with two base knocks of her own. Navarro knocked in two of her teammates as well.

Dalaney Bice (Fr., Woodward, Iowa, Human Services & Psychology) went the distance for the win, striking out seven against three walks.

Concordia 8, WPU 3

The navy and gold were unable to get on the board until the sixth, finally doing so with three runs, but by that point their counterparts had already built a 6-0 advantage and held on for the triumph.

The Statesmen came up short at the plate, 14-11, but four different players stepped up with two shots apiece. The quartet included Castro, Koko, Kodee Johnson (Sr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics), and Kayla Browning (Sr. Spring Valley, Calif., Biology). Jarrah Jensen (Jr., Blakesburg, Iowa, Physical Education) also recorded a two-run base knock in a pinch-hitting role.

Katie Springer (So., Riverside, Iowa, Undecided) entered in relief in the second frame and pitched 5 2/3 solid innings, including tallying a pair of Ks.

WPU 6, Jamestown 5

The Statesmen did not need to have more base knocks than their opponent (WPU was outhit 14-9) in order to come away with the victory in the spring break finale.

A four-run first was followed by two more scores in the second and William Penn hung on in the latter innings. Johnson, Brown, and Navarro all produced 2-for-3 showings; Johnson scored twice as well.

Bice got the win, hurling 3 2/3 frames, while Springer held it together late to earn the save, permitting only run in 3 1/3 innings; both players managed a strikeout.

Next Up: With this weekend’s doubleheaders postponed due to weather, William Penn will not return to action until next Wednesday as it hosts Graceland in its home and Heart of America Athletic Conference opener. The twinbill is set to start at 4 p.m.