Statesmen Finish 1-1 on First Day of Ashford Tourney
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Morrison, Ill.–The William Penn softball team crushed Friday’s first opponent, but could not pull off the sweep on the opening day of the Ashford Spring Jamboree.
The Statesmen (23-12) won 9-0 (5 innings) against Trinity Christian (Ill.) and lost 3-0 to #12 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.).
The navy and gold scored early and often against the Trolls (13-12), beginning with a two-run first inning. Malloree Grove (Sr., Runnells, Iowa, Physical Education) started the game with a single, moved to third on a double by sister Brittanee Grove (Jr., Runnells, Iowa, Elementary Education), and eventually scored on a groundout. Bri Zerley (Jr., Monroe, Iowa, Biology) then singled in Brittanee Grove to make it 2-0.
Four more scores were added in the third. Brittanee Grove singled in Malloree, while a double by Jessica Christensen (So., Marysville, Wash., Sociology) brought in Sydney Edwards (Jr., Galesburg, Ill., Psychology & Biology). Steviee Grove (Sr., Runnells, Iowa, History/Government) flew out, but Brittanee tagged up and touched home plate on the deep ball. Jorden Steele (Jr., Tacoma, Wash., Physical Education) also added an RBI single that scored Christensen.
WPU’s final three runs were tallied in the fourth with Zerley managing another RBI one-bagger (Edwards scored), while Steviee Grove had another sacrifice fly to score Brittanee. Finally, Steele’s single allowed Zerley to touch the final base.
An 11-2 edge in hits was posted by the victors, headlined by two base knocks each by Edwards, Brittanee Grove, Zerley, and Steele. Edwards and Brittanee Grove rounded the pads three times, while Christensen, Zerley, Steviee Grove, and Steele all drove in two runs.
Jennifer Whitehead (Sr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Biology) improved to 15-4 with a two-hit shutout–her seventh of the spring. The senior finished with six strikeouts against two walks.
William Penn was shut out for just the fourth time this year (first since March 8) against ONU, but it was not for lack of opportunities. The Statesmen actually outhit the 28-2 Tigers by a 7-4 tally and had seven players get into scoring position. Unfortunately, five innings ended with WPU players stranded on second or third base (11 total left on base).
Brittanee Grove did all she could to keep the upset bid viable. The junior gave up two runs in a first frame that featured two hit batters. She settled down, though, and only permitted one more run in the sixth. Grove, who struck out one with one walk, fell to 4-4 with the setback. Malloree Grove was 3-for-4 at the plate, while Brittanee reached base twice (one hit, one walk).
Next: On Saturday at the Jamboree, the Statesmen face Roosevelt (Ill.) at 10 a.m. and Judson (Ill.) at 12:30 p.m.
