Statesmen Earn First Series Sweep of Season
Palos Heights, Ill.–The William Penn baseball team had a series against the Trinity Christian Trolls this weekend, finishing with a four-game sweep.
WPU 7, TCC 2
The Trolls took advantage of a pair of miscues in the first inning to get on the board first. The Statesmen, however, responded in a big way. Nathan Jessell (Fr., Napa, Calif., Sociology) earned a free pass to lead off the inning, but then the next two batters both made outs. With two outs, Alex Fisher (Jr., Sydney, Australia, Biology) doubled in WPU’s first run of the game, then Carson Hauk (So., Plainview, Texas, Business Management) reached on a walk. The next three batters all reached via a free pass to drive in two more runs, then Tanner Bedier (Jr., Bondurant, Iowa, Industrial Technology) cashed in with a huge two-out, three-run double to make it six runs in the inning.
After the first inning score, Brian Thomas (So., Shingle Springs, Calif.) really settled in. He conceded one more run in the fourth, but that was all the hosts were able to manage as Thomas went the distance to begin the series. In his seven innings of work, Thomas only allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks. He struck out five batters and retired the last seven in a row that he faced.
The Statesmen only recorded five hits as a team, but were able to get their hits in bunches and take advantage of a number of free passes. Bedier had the biggest blow with his three-RBI double, and Fisher recorded a multi-RBI game as well.
WPU 7, TCC 4 (10 innings)
The navy and gold got two two-out baserunners in the first, but were unable to cash in. They did strike first in the third, as Tim Jean (So., Libertyville, Ill., Public Accounting) walked and stole second to begin the inning. He was driven in by Bedier a couple batters later.
The Trolls evened the score in the 4th, but William Penn took the lead on another two-out, RBI hit by Bedier. The hosts answered back, however, and used three sixth inning runs to enter the seventh with a two-run lead.
The Statesmen put two runners in scoring position with just one out as Jameson Hart (Sr., Sarnia, Ontario, Sports Management) led off with a single and Fisher doubled him to third. The big hit came off the bat of Alonzo Zuniga (Fr., Covina, Calif., Psychology and Sociology), who had a huge, clutch, two-out, two-RBI single to tie the game at four.
Franklin Aparicio (So., Panama City, Panama) got himself into some trouble in the eighth, but stranded two runners in scoring position to force more extra innings. The Statesmen finally broke through in the tenth with yet another two-out rally. Trevor Dooley (So., Prole, Iowa, Computer Science) and Bedier had hits with two outs, and Jessell cashed in Dooley. After Hart was hit to load the bases, a defensive miscue allowed two more runs to score, and the Statesmen were able to finish out the first day with two wins.
Aparicio earned the win in relief after turning in three scoreless frames. Stetson Denning (Jr., Queens Creek, Ariz., Sports Management) twirled five innings of one-run ball, while Bret Whiffen (So., Green Bay, Wis., Exercise Science) also tossed two.
WPU 6, TCC 3
The visitors were the first ones on the scoreboard once again, and this time used their speed to help get runs across. Jessell singled and stole second, setting things up for Dooley to drive him home. Dooley promptly stole second as well to keep the Statesmen away from the double play, and Hauk scored Graversen with a groundout.
The Trolls got two runs back in the fourth to tie the game, but the offense came back in the sixth. Fisher doubled and scored on a sac fly, and with two outs, Jessell homered for the first time this year. In the seventh, Bedier earned yet another two-out RBI, and Fisher scored another with another sacrifice fly.
Nick George (So., Sarnia, Ontario) came back out for the seventh to finish what he started. Although he allowed one more run, the Trolls never came closer as the Statesmen turned in their second complete game effort of the weekend. George allowed three earned runs across eight hits on the day.
WPU 4, TCC 0
After three runs in the first inning, the pitching staff for William Penn dominated the rest of the game. Ty Harter (So., Galesburg, Ill.) twirled four scoreless frames, and Bedier finished off the weekend with three more scoreless innings.
Rhett Zelinsky (So., Brookings, S.D.) had a big day with three hits, and Dooley drove in two runs. Graversen also reached base three times via walk.
“Fortunately got out of there with four wins,” said Head Coach Mike Laird. “Played spotty a couple games but came out on top. Several guys played really well.”
What’s Next: The Statesmen only have two games during the spring break week, as they are scheduled for their first home doubleheader against the Waldorf Warriors on Wednesday. The first game is slated for 1 PM.
