Statesmen Drop Extra-Inning Duel with Waldorf
William Penn Statesmen in earlier action against Waldorf
Oskaloosa–William Penn was Team Opportunistic Saturday, but saw its fortunes reverse Sunday in a 3-2, ten-inning Midwest Collegiate Conference loss to Waldorf.
The Statesmen (8-11, 2-1 MCC) fell behind early, giving up a solo home run to Spenser Popinga in the second frame.
Brad McGuire (Jr., Covina, Calif., Citrus CC) then relieved starting pitcher Jonathan Davis (Sr., San Diego., Calif., Southwestern CC) with two runners on in the third. Despite giving up another run (put on Davis’ mark), he got out of the predicament with only a few scratches.
The junior (0-1) only got stronger as the day progressed, keeping the navy and gold within striking distance. McGuire finished the afternoon by giving up just one run (unearned) on five hits in eight innings. He struck out four against one walk.
William Penn managed to put runners on base in nearly every inning, but struggled to bring those individuals around until finally breaking through in the seventh.
Still down 2-0, Stanley Muller (Sr., Tucson, Ariz., Cochise CC) drew a one-out walk. Back-to-back singles by Julio Riojas (Jr., Hampton, Ill., Carl Sandburg CC) and Jayme Mueller (Jr., Mundelein, Ill., College of Lake County CC) then loaded the bases.
Randall Packard (Sr., Forestville, Calif., Cal State-Monterey) got his squad on the board with a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Muller, but a double to the right-center gap off the bat of Brad Chin (Sr., San Rafael, Calif., San Rafael HS) was the biggest base knock by tying the contest.
The hit brought in Riojas, but pinchrunner Korbin Taylor (Fr., Mount Pleasant, Mount Pleasant HS) unfortunately stumbled rounding third base and was forced to stay 90 feet away. Evelio Ahumada (Sr., Hacienda Heights, Calif., Citrus CC) grounded out to second base in the next at-bat to close out the rally at 2-2.
Packard paced the home team with a 2-for-4 showing.
McGuire battled through a pair of jams in the eighth and ninth, allowing the hosts a chance to complete the rally in the ninth.
Riojas earned a base on balls to start the frame, but was part of a double play in the next at-bat and the game was extended to an extra inning.
Tevin Padgett began the tenth by reaching on an error and recorded the eventual game-winner two batters down the order on a triple by Jake Bews.
William Penn, who left 12 runners on base (eight different innings), failed to answer in the bottom half, losing for the first time in MCC play.
Next: The Statesmen continue Midwest Collegiate Conference action next weekend. On Saturday, the navy and gold face Viterbo in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The teams then meet up again on Sunday for a nine-inning game also at 1 p.m.
