Statesmen Shut Out Culver-Stockton Twice in Sweep
Oskaloosa–The William Penn baseball team rode a pair of excellent pitching performances to a sweep of Culver-Stockton in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday.
WPU (12-15, 4-8 Heart), which won by scores of 3-0 and 2-0, limited the Wildcats (8-19-1, 5-7 Heart) to just seven total hits over the twinbill.
The home team posted an 8-4 edge in base knocks in the first contest, but was held off the scoreboard through the first two frames. The navy and gold finally broke through in the third when Blair Speas (Jr., O’Fallon, Mo., New Media) recorded a one-out single. He then proceeded to steal second base before being driven in on a double to left field by Nick George (Sr., Sarina, Ontario, Sociology).
Aiden North (Fr., Oskaloosa, Iowa, Industrial Technology) pounded a two-bagger to the right-center gap to plate Zach Otten (Jr., Mapleton, Ill.) in the fourth, while Nathan Jessell (Jr., Napa, Calif., Sociology), in the next at-bat, drove in North’s courtesy runner Jalani Hudnal (Fr., Milwaukee, Wis., Psychology) with a single.
George, with a pair of doubles, and North, both finished 2-for-3 in the opener.
William Penn had baserunners in each of the first five frames, but could not add to its tally. It did not matter, however, as starting pitcher Joel Holguin (Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., Sociology) and relief hurler Abel Madueno (Jr., San Bernardino, Calif., Business Management) had it under control as they combined for the shutout.
Holguin worked 5 2/3 innings for the win, giving up just two hits, while striking out five and walking three. Madueno then scattered two hits in the final 1 1/3 frames, allowing two base knocks and striking out three C-SC batters to earn the save.
Brian Thomas (Sr., Shingle Springs, Calif., Sports Management) picked up where his teammates left off, mowing down the opposition in the second matchup to the tune of three strikeouts in seven innings of three-hit shutout ball to receive the complete-game victory. The senior ran into a bit of trouble in the fourth inning, but managed to strand runners at second and third base. He closed out the win by retiring the final 12 batters he faced.
The Statesmen offense was far from prolific, but it did not need to be with Thomas’ dominance. Hector Dominguez (So., Fontana, Calif., Exercise Science) doubled in Speas in the first, while Holguin tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly by George in the third.
Both sides were limited to just three hits in the nightcap. Jessell had one hit and drew a walk in the victory.
“This was a much-needed doubleheader sweep,” Head Coach Mike Laird said. “We got some great pitching performances from Joel Holguin, Abel Madueno, and Brian Thomas. It is great to have Brian back on the mound.”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Peosta next Friday to face Clarke in a Heart doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
