Naranjo’s Walk-Off Helps WPU to Split with Missouri Valley

Oskaloosa–The Statesmen softball team split a pair of pitching duels Saturday as it faced off with Missouri Valley in Heart of America Athletic Conference action.

WPU (14-20, 3-7 Heart) lost the opener 3-2 in eight innings, but responded by winning the nightcap 1-0.

The hosts, who doubled up the Vikings 10-5 in hits in the first outing, finally broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning. Laila Smith (Fr., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) led off the frame with a single and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Abby Wilson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta, Nursing). She then came home in the next at-bat via a double from Chelsey Huff (Jr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science).

Unfortunately, MVC (15-17, 9-3 Heart) evened the matchup in the top of the seventh to force extra innings. Peyton Naranjo (Fr., Ripon, Calif., Biology) reached base in the bottom of the seventh and moved to third, but was stranded there.

The visitors then captured their first advantage of the afternoon with two unearned runs in the eighth, but the navy and gold had a chance on the bottom side. Zoey Jones (Sr., Ottumwa, Iowa, Elementary Education) started the Statesmen at-bats with a single and eventually scored on another one-bagger from Huff.

Nayely Martinez (Sr., Carson, Calif., Business Management) and Naranjo then followed with singles of their own to load the bases, but the Statesmen could not finish the rally as the contest ended with a lineout to the second baseman.

Huff was the star in the opener, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Naranjo added a pair of base knocks. Huff also pitched extremely well, striking out eight (no walks) in eight frames. Just one of the three runs she allowed were earned.

Emily Bryant (Sr., University Place, Wash., Nursing) matched Huff with another outstanding outing in the pitching circle in the nightcap, permitting only four hits in seven scoreless frames. She tallied four strikeouts against two walks, but without run support, the senior was one out from having to also pitch into the eighth inning.

That was because the Statesmen offense was also stymied by the opposition’s hurler. WPU was not only scoreless, but also hitless, through six innings, having just two walks and a hit-by-pitch to its credit.

The second of the two walks was drawn by Martinez with one out in the seventh. She then took second on a wild pitch before being replaced on the basepaths by Allyson Stewart (Sr., Delta, B.C., Nursing).

Naranjo then stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a hard shot to the right side of the infield. The ball ricocheted off the first baseman’s glove and then the second baseman’s as well and went into right field. Stewart was waved around and beat the throw from the MVC right fielder as William Penn’s first and only hit served as the game-winner.

“I am so glad we finally got the win,” Head Coach Laura North said. “The ladies have been playing really good softball, and they finally got rewarded in the win column. It is so nice to finally win a close one.”

“Chelsey Huff and Emily Bryant were as good as they have been all season,” North added. “Unfortunately, we let the first game get away from us. We have to learn to go and win a game. We have had a lot of bad luck lately in close ones, but we also need to make some of our own luck. Peyton Naranjo has been our most consistent hitter this season, so when she came up, I was confident she was going to come through for us.”

Next Up: William Penn remains in Oskaloosa next Tuesday, hosting Culver-Stockton in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.