Late Rally Falls Short as WPU Swept by GVU
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Des Moines–The William Penn softball team was within striking distance in both games Friday, but could not come away victorious in either as it was swept by rival Grand View in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.
WPU (19-27, 10-16 Heart) fell by scores of 6-5 and 1-0.
The visitors trailed 2-0 after four innings in the opening contest, but cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth on a double by Emily Brown (Sr., Waverly, Iowa, Biology) that plated Sonia Reddy (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science), who led off with a single.
The hosts (35-6, 25-3 Heart) answered in the bottom of the frame to make it 3-1 and the score stood until the navy and gold’s final at-bats in the seventh. That is when the offense, which tallied 14 total hits (10 for GVU), came alive.
Paced by a two-run double by Kiya Harper (Jr., Decatur, Ill., Exercise Science), William Penn had five consecutive batters reach base without an out being record. When the dust settled, the Statesmen had claimed their first lead of the day at 5-3.
Unfortunately, the advantage would not hold up as Grand View rallied with a three-run bottom of the seventh to take the opener.
Harper’s double was not the squad’s only one. Jasmine Gonzalez (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Kinesiology) had herself a day, tying a school record (since 1999) with three doubles as part of a 3-for-4 showing.
Abby Young (Jr., Dunlap, Ill., Exercise Science) and Lexi Riccardi (Jr., Redwood City, Calif., Biology) recorded two hits as well, while Reddy scored twice. All nine field starters managed a base knock in the setback.
The offensive success did not carry into the nightcap, however, as WPU was outhit 5-3. Despite the lack of firepower, the Statesmen were able to put runners on second and third in both the second and fifth innings, but came up empty in both instances.
Katie Springer (Jr., Riverside, Iowa, Psychology and Human Services) did everything in her power to give the Statesmen a chance for the twinbill split, striking out three while walking three in a complete-game effort.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Lamoni Saturday to face Graceland in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.
