Statesmen Sneak in Pair of Games to Start 2019
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Fort Worth, Texas–Before Mother Nature could butt in, the William Penn softball team was able to play a pair of contests as part of the Cowtown Classic Friday.
WPU (1-1) began the spring by defeating Central Baptist 7-6 and falling to #1 Oklahoma City 18-1 (5 innings).
WPU 7, Central Baptist 6
The back-and-forth battle landed in favor of the Statesmen, who had to overcome four errors for the victory.
The navy and gold produced three runs in the second frame, headlined by a single from Savannah Fleming (Sr., Gooding, Idaho, Exercise Science) to drive in both Lexi Riccardi (Jr., Redwood City, Calif., Biology) and Lindsay Lambert (Sr., Elk Grove, Calif., Elementary Education). Sonia Reddy (Jr., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science) then capped the frame with a triple to bring Fleming home.
The Mustangs (1-5) answered with four runs in the fourth, but William Penn tied things at 4-4 in the fifth when Emily Brown (Sr., Waverly, Iowa, Biology) touched home plate. She led off the inning with a single and was 2-for-4 overall.
CBC recaptured the edge at 6-4 in the sixth, only to witness the Statesmen once again draw even in the bottom half. Brown notched both of her RBIs in the at-bat, singling home Kiya Harper (Jr., Decatur, Ill., Exercise Science) and Lexi Resa (So., Liberty, Mo., Biology).
After a shutdown frame by reliever Shelby Copley (Sr., Denver, Colo., Biology), WPU was in position to win in walk-off fashion and did so via help from its bench.
Whitney Stone (Fr., Roseburg, Ore., Education) recorded a one-out single, one of 11 base knocks for William Penn (CBC had nine). She was then replaced on the basepaths by Madison Garchinski (Jr., Fairy Glen, Saskatchewan, Elementary Education), who came around for the game-winning run two batters later on a single by pinch-hitter Rachael Haessly (So., Alpine, Calif., Biology).
Reddy and Resa matched Brown with two hits apiece, while starting pitcher Katie Springer (Jr., Riverside, Iowa, Psychology and Human Services) tossed five innings. She struck out one and walked one, while giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits.
Copley, who earned the victory, allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits in her two frames of work; she walked one batter.
Oklahoma City 18, WPU 1
Late-inning heroics would not be duplicated against the top team in the land as the Statesmen were outhit 17-1 and committed five fielding mistakes.
The lone base knock came from Harper as her double scored Brown. Amy Russell (Fr., Colfax, Iowa, Exercise Science), Karlee-Rose Perry (Sr., Kaupo, Hawaii, General Biology), and Izabelle Morales (Fr., Henderson, Nev., Sociology) all earned time in the pitching circle against the Stars (3-0).
Next Up: William Penn travels to Batesville, Ark. on Friday and Saturday, February 22-23 for four games. On Friday, the Statesmen meet Saint Mary (Kan.) at 10 a.m. before taking on host Lyon at 2 p.m. On Saturday, WPU again faces Saint Mary at 10 a.m., while its battle with Lyon will be at noon.
