Defensive Miscues Sink Statesmen Vs. Culver-Stockton
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–A few nice fielding plays were made against Culver-Stockton, but far too many mistakes were also committed as the William Penn softball team was swept in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Tuesday.
The Statesmen (19-26, 6-10 Heart) lost by scores of 7-3 and 5-4.
Six errors were committed in the opener, leading six of the seven C-SC runs to be unearned. The Wildcats (27-15, 13-7 Heart) put three on the board in the first and never trailed in the twinbill.
Chelsee Herron (Sr., Anaheim, Calif., Elementary Education) and Kayla Browning (Jr. Spring Valley, Calif., Biology) pulled WPU back into the game with a two-run second inning. The duo started the frame with consecutive doubles, while Breann Robertson (Fr., Rainier, Wash., Human Services and Sociology) added a run-scoring single as well.
Unfortunately, the visitors added to their advantage with one run in the third, two in the fourth, and one more in the sixth to take control. Hayley Freestone (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) scored WPU’s final run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
The Statesmen tallied an equal number of hits and errors with six each. Chyanne Koko (So., Waianae, Hawaii, Business Management) managed four strikeouts against two walks in the complete game loss.
C-SC scored the first three runs of the nightcap as well, leading 3-0 entering the bottom of the fifth frame. The hosts got a run back in the fifth when Brooklyn Bantz (So., Smithville, Mo., Psychology and Human Services) singled in Browning.
Another run came across in the sixth on Browning’s single that plated Marissa Pereyra (Sr., Fullerton, Calif., Exercise Science) to make the score 3-2.
Unfortunately, the Wildcats extended the margin back to three with a two-run top of the seventh. The Statesmen did not go down without a fight, though. They answered those two runs, but could not get the tying run to come across as Tabitha Scott (Fr., Placentia, Calif., Psychology) was stranded at third base to conclude the contest.
William Penn lost despite owning a 7-5 edge in hits and committing one less error than C-SC (3-4). Bantz topped the offense with two base knocks.
Elizabeth Whitaker (Jr., Azalea, Ore., Exercise Science), with four strikeouts and five walks, was saddled with the loss in the nightcap.
Next Up: William Penn travels to Olathe, Kan. Wednesday to face MidAmerica Nazarene in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.
