William Penn Drops Pair to Pioneers

William Penn University Athletics

Olathe, Kan.–The Statesmen softball team has been giving itself chances to win lately, but failing to take advantage and Saturday followed that script as WPU was swept by MidAmerica Nazarene in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.

WPU (18-23, 6-16 Heart) lost by scores of 2-1 and 6-3.

The navy and gold broke through immediately as a double off the bat of pitcher Chyanne Koko (Jr., Waianae, Hawaii, Physical Education) brought in Kacey Lutz (Jr., Lodi, Calif., Business Management) to make it 1-0 in the top of the first.

The squad loaded the bases in the second, but failed to drive anyone else in, setting the stage for more struggles as the game wore on. MNU (20-14, 11-10 Heart) tied the game in the bottom of the first and took the lead in the fifth, but the Statesmen were still in the hunt.

Unfortunately, the visitors left the tying run in scoring position in the seventh to take the opening-game loss.

William Penn was outhit just 6-5 with two base knocks coming from Sonia Reddy (Fr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science). Koko struck out one batter in a complete game performance.

The home team broke a scoreless tie in the nightcap by plating one run in the fourth. The Pioneers then added four more in the fifth and an insurance run in the sixth.

WPU was unable to get anything produced in its first six frames, but started to put MidAmerica Nazarene on notice in the seventh with three runs. Lutz doubled in Dalaney Bice (Woodward, Iowa, (Human Services & Psychology) and Brooklyn Bantz (Jr., Smithville, Mo., Psychology and Human Services). Bantz guided her team with a 3-for-3 effort as the Statesmen lost the hits battle 13-8.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Peru, Neb. Wednesday to face Peru State in a Heart doubleheader at 2 p.m.