Late Rally Gives Statesmen Split Over Eagles
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa—The William Penn University Statesmen (12-25, 6-15 Heart) began a stretch Thursday that will see the team play 18 games in 12 days due to schedule changes caused by inclement weather.
They began by hosting the Avila University Eagles (31-16, 17-9 Heart) in a Heart of America Conference doubleheader.
The teams would split the two games after with the Eagles taking game one 6-3 and the Statesmen taking game two after a late rally that that featured a walk-off hit to give them the victory 5-4.
AU 6, WPU 3
Game one was started in the circle by Katie Springer (Jr., Riverside, Iowa, Undecided) who delivered a quality outing going 4 innings and only surrendering 1 hit to the Eagles.
The Statesmen would go up early in the game and jump out to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Chyanne Koko (Sr., Waianae, Hawaii, Physical Education) blasted a 2-run home run over the center field fence. It was the Seniors second home run of the season.
Roxanna Jensen (Sr., Coto de Caza, Calif., Psychology) also had a nice game at the dish providing a multi-hit effort finishing 2-3 with a RBI.
AU 4, WPU 5
With the Statesmen set to play a load of games in the upcoming days, Springer was once again tasked with starting in the circle. The Junior would once again deliver, going 4 strong innings while only allowing 1 earned run.
Dalaney Bice (So., Woodward, Iowa, Human Services & Psychology) would come in relief and shut down the Eagles bats tossing 3 innings and only allowing 1 earned run on 1 hit. Bice got it done with the bat as well going 3-4 including a solo home-run in the fourth inning. It was her sixth long ball of the year.
Down 4-1 in the heading into the bottom of the fifth, the Statesmen would rally in the inning to score two runs. The first run would come across on a single by Bice, scoring Lexi Herbert (Jr., King City, Mo., Secondary Education). Herbert began the inning with a single. Koko would then proceed to put together a great at-bat and draw a bases loaded walk, making the score 4-3.
William Penn would strike again in the sixth inning. Hayley Freestone (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management) led off the inning with a double to right-center field. After advancing to third on a ground out, Freestone would come around to tie the game on a single by Rachael Haessly (Fr., Alpine, Calif., Biology).
After retiring the Eagles in order in the top of the seventh, the Statesmen would head to the bottom half looking to win the ball game. The inning started with a single down the left-field line by Bice, her third hit of the game. She then advanced to second on a ground out by Koko. Lexi Resa (Fr., Liberty, Mo., Biology) was called on to pinch run for Bice at second base. Her impact was instantly felt on the very next pitch as she was able to advance to third on a passed ball. Tess Cheetham (Jr., Oceanside, Calif., Human Services and Sociology) would then deliver a single up the middle to give the Statesmen the walk-off win.
Next Up: William Penn will host Graceland tomorrow starting at 4 p.m. in Oskaloosa.
