Statesmen Denied by Red Raiders

Joplin, Mo.–The William Penn baseball team dug itself a hole too big to get out of as it fell 8-3 in non-conference play to Northwestern Saturday.

On a cold day in southern Missouri where its other scheduled matchup versus William Woods was cancelled, WPU (1-4) was outhit just 11-9, but could not make up for a six-run second frame.

Down by a half dozen, the navy and gold allowed two more marks in the fourth inning. The Statesmen, who had baserunners in each of the first five frames, finally got on the board in the sixth as Nick George (Sr., Sarina, Ontario, Sociology) powered a ball over the fence for a three-run home run that also plated Nathan Jessell (Jr., Napa, Calif., Sociology) and Justin Martinez (Sr., Bronx, N.Y., Sports Management) with the final runs of the contest.

George finished 2-for-3, while Blair Speas (Jr., O’Fallon, Mo., New Media) paced the offense with a 3-for-4 outing. Jessell 2-for-3 at the dish as well.

Bret Whiffen (Sr., Green Bay, Wis., Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management) entered the game in the second inning and pitched well in relief. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed just two unearned runs on seven scattered hits, while striking out five and walking one.

Next Up: William Penn remains in Joplin, Mo. Sunday to face Concordia (Neb.) in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m.