Statesmen Open League Play 1-3 vs. MNU, BC
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Olathe, Kan. / Atchison, Kan.–The William Penn baseball team did not start Heart of America Athletic Conference action as well as it had hoped, dropping three of four games last Friday and Saturday.
WPU (8-11, 1-3 Heart) split Friday’s double dip with MidAmerica Nazarene, falling 2-1 (8 innings) and winning 8-4. On Saturday, the Statesmen were swept by Benedictine, losing by scores of 6-2 and 9-2.
MidAmerica Nazarene 2, WPU 1
The Statesmen scored the game’s initial run in the first on a Tanner Hamblin (So., Salem, Utah, Undecided) double that plated pinchrunner Nick Worcester (So., Bloomingdale, Ill., Physical Education). Worcester was on the pads for Nathan Ball (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash., Psychology) who led off the frame with a double.
The Pioneers (6-6, 1-1 Heart) then tied the game in the fourth. WPU put runners in scoring position in four more innings, but failed to bring them around.
Unfortunately, fielding mistakes (three total errors for William Penn) doomed the team in the end as a dropped fly ball brought in the game-winning run. Neither of MNU’s runs were earned as D.J. Milam (Sr., Lancaster, Calif., Business Management) was strong on the mound, striking out four (one walk) in a complete-game effort.
The visitors outhit the hosts 7-5 with Matt Rhodes (Des Moines, Iowa, Business Management) heading the squad with two base knocks.
WPU 8, MidAmerica Nazarene 4
William Penn avenged the opening loss by tallying multiple runs in three separate innings and holding a 14-8 edge in hits.
The navy and gold again scored in the first frame with Seth Reisbeck (Jr., Meridian, Idaho, History/Government) and Jimmy Blake (Jr., Seffner, Fla., Sports Management) both posting run-scoring singles.
WPU was up 2-1 after the first and then extended the advantage to 6-1 after the top of the second. Following an RBI single by Julian Villegas (Sr., Wilmington, Calif., Sociology) and a sacrifice fly by Reisbeck, Hamblin provided the biggest hit with a two-run homer.
Two more runs were recorded in the sixth with another RBI single by Reisbeck. Ball also scored on a wild pitch.
Reisbeck, Villegas, RaHeim Hampton (Jr., Richfield, Minn., Elementary Education), and Aaron Petrash (Jr., North Miami, Fla., Digital Communication) all tallied two hits. Villegas and Petrash also scored twice in the victory.
Nick Seipel (Sr., Rosemont, Minn., Software Engineering) struck out four (three walks) in five innings as the starter. Reisbeck was not just strong with the bat, but also tossed a scoreless inning out of the bullpen. Trent Barnett (Jr., Eddyville, Iowa, Accounting) had a pair of strikeouts as well in one scoreless inning.
Benedictine 6, WPU 2
The Statesmen, who were outhit 9-8, scored first with two runs in the second. Hamblin led off with a solo shot, while Phillip Berman (Sr., Long Beach, Calif., Education) brought in Hampton on a single.
Unfortunately, the rest of the contest belonged to the Ravens (10-8, 2-0 Heart) who highlighted their rally with four runs in the fifth to pull away.
Hamblin was the offensive leader with a 2-for-2 effort, while Augie Voight (Jr., Waukegan, Ill., Secondary Education) struck out six in five frames. Barnett collected two more strikeouts in a perfect sixth inning.
Benedictine 9, WPU 2
BC rolled to the sweep, scoring in five separate innings, including five in the second. William Penn finally got on the board with a two-run seventh frame as Reisbeck drove in both runs on a double.
Fabio Espinosa (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn., Wellness and Recreation) managed a team-high two hits as the Statesmen were outhit 11-6. Five separate pitchers entered the game with each of them recording at least one strikeout.
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa for its home opener Saturday, hosting Graceland in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
