Aguila’s Two-Home Run Game Highlights 2-1 Finish to Missouri Trip
William Penn University Athletics
Joplin, Mo.–The William Penn baseball team finished up a solid trek to the Show-Me State with two more victories Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, William Penn (5-3) fell 8-7 to Columbia (Mo.) before dropping Viterbo 5-4 (eight innings). The squad then defeated Saint Mary (Kan.) 17-4 on Sunday.
Columbia 8, WPU 7
The game was tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the third, but CC scored five of the next six runs to lead 7-3 after six frames.
WPU stayed alive, though, by posting a big four-run seventh inning. Unfortunately, the Cougars answered back in the bottom half to win on a walk-off.
The Statesmen were outhit 13-8 with Phillip Berman (Jr., Long Beach, Calif.) leading the way with a pair of hits. Jeysen Delgado (Jr., Harbor City, Calif.) scored twice, while Cory Russell (Sr., El Cajon, Calif., Education) also drove in a pair of runs.
WPU 5, Viterbo 4
The navy and gold held a 6-5 edge in hits, but got in trouble early as all four of the V-Hawks’ runs were plated in the first inning. Starter D.J. Milam (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Business Management) fortunately found his groove and finished with four strikeouts against two walks in 5 2/3 innings.
Dakota Herman (Woodland Park, Colo., Biology) and Trent Barnett (So., Eddyville, Iowa, Accounting) were impressive out of the bullpen, not allowing a run in 2 1/3 combined innings of relief. Barnett earned the win as William Penn came all the way back and eventually won the extra-inning contest in walk-off-fashion.
Delgado and Anthony Aguila (Jr., Highland, Calif.) both finished 2-for-3 at the dish; Aguila tallied two RBIs in the victory.
WPU 17, Saint Mary 4
The Statesmen ended the weekend by crushing the Spires, including outhitting them 17-9. Aguila had the biggest showing, clearing the fence twice and finishing with six RBIs. It is the program’s first multi-homer game since 2010.
Several others were also impressive at the plate, including Delgado going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Julian Villegas (Jr., Wilmington, Calif.) was 2-for-4 with a trio of runs scored, while Tyler Raskin (Sr., Vancouver, Wash., Business Management) was 2-4 as well with four RBIs and two runs. Russell ended up 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.
Fabian Gutierrez (Jr., Selah, Wash.) and Aaron Petrash (Fr., North Miami, Fla., Digital Communication) also contributed two hits each.
Scott Simpson (Jr., Berwick, Victoria) started the game and struck out three batters in 3 1/3 innings. Nick Seipel (Jr., Rosemont, Minn.) relieved him in the fourth and took the win by permitting just one hit in 3 2/3 scoreless innings; Seipel managed five strikeouts.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Minneapolis, Minn. next weekend to compete in two non-conference doubleheaders. On Saturday, the Statesmen meet Concordia-Moorhead at 10:30 a.m., and on Sunday, WPU takes on Augsburg at 4:30 p.m.
