Late Scores too Little as WPU Swept by Clarke
William Penn University Athletics
Dubuque–The Statesmen softball team wound up a little short in two low-scoring Heart of America Athletic Conference contests against Clarke Saturday.
WPU (19-28, 7-21 Heart) lost by scores of 3-1 and 4-2.
The navy and gold started the day inauspiciously with runners left in scoring position in the first and fourth frames.
The Crusaders (36-9, 25-7 Heart) took advantage of William Penn’s missed chances, scoring all three of their runs in the fifth.
The visitors finally got on the board in their final at-bats in the seventh when Emily Brown (Jr., Waverly, Iowa, Biology) hit a solo home run–her second shot of the year. Unfortunately, that was all the damage WPU could muster.
Michelle Castro (Fr., Acampo, Calif., Business Management) guided her team with one hit and one walk; both teams finished with five hits.
Chyanne Koko (Jr., Waianae, Hawaii, Physical Education) was solid in a complete-game effort, striking out one batter without a walk.
Castro had a nice outing in the nightcap as well, putting the Statesmen on top 1-0 in the second with a solo homer. The freshman now has two roundtrippers this spring.
Clarke answered with one run in the bottom of the second and then took the edge for good with two runs in the third. The hosts added one more tally in the fourth to lead 4-1.
WPU tried to make a game of it in the seventh. Dalaney Bice (Fr., Woodward, Iowa, Human Services and Psychology) scored on a sacrifice fly by Kodee Johnson (Sr., Stockton, Calif., General Mathematics), but nothing more occurred in the contest.
William Penn lost the hitting battle 8-6 with Johnson on the top with two hits, while Brooklyn Bantz (Jr., Smithville, Mo., Psychology and Human Services) had both a base knock and a base on balls.
Bice entered the game out of the bullpen and was effective as she only gave up two hits in two scoreless frames.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Cedar Rapids Sunday to face Mount Mercy in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.
