Lady Statesmen Swept in Non-League Play
William Penn Women's Athletics
Baldwin City, Kan.–The William Penn softball team failed to keep its winning streak intact in losing a pair of non-conference games to Baker Saturday.
The Lady Statesmen (12-10) lost by scores of 3-0 and 3-2, snapping their streak at a season-high seven games.
Jennifer Whitehead (So., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) struggled out of the gate, giving up all three of runs in the first inning.
The sophomore (4-6) rebounded, though, not allowing another base hit the rest of the game. She retired 14 consecutive batters at one point.
Unfortunately, she was not rewarded with any offensive support. The navy and gold owned a 6-4 edge in hits and had a half dozen runners move into scoring position, but not a one crossed home plate.
William Penn had its best chance in the sixth when Brianne Rowley (Sr., Hood River, Ore., Blue Mountain CC) led off with a double. Khyia Lewis (Sr., Ottumwa, Ottumwa HS) followed with a walk, but nothing came of it with three straight outs.
Rowley guided the Lady Statesmen with a 3-for-3 showing, while Ashlee Dennis (Fr., Loveland, Colo., Mountain View HS) was 2-for-4.
Whitehead took the loss with three strikeouts and one walk.
The Wildcats (8-7) also claimed the early lead in the nightcap with a run in both the first and second innings.
William Penn answered back this time with two in the fourth. Dennis led off with a double and scored two batters later on another two-bagger by Rowley. The senior tied up the game two at-bats down the road on a Baker error.
The home team unfortunately had the final say in the matter, putting the go-ahead run across in the sixth and the Lady Statesmen went out like lambs in the seventh.
Baker posted a 5-3 advantage in hits as Nicole Danna (Jr., Boone, Iowa Central CC) was saddled with the loss. The junior (5-2) gave up just one earned run, while striking out two and walking a pair.
Next: The Lady Statesmen open Midwest Collegiate Conference action Wednesday by traveling to Cedar Rapids to meet Mount Mercy. The doubleheader begins at 3 p.m.
