Statesmen Split Second Day of Roosevelt Tourney
Rosemont, Ill.–The William Penn softball team notched another victory as it split two non-conference games on the second day of the NAIA Leadoff Tournament hosted by Roosevelt Saturday.
WPU (5-3) fell 8-3 to Saint Xavier in Saturday’s opener, but then bounced back for an 8-3 win over Olivet Nazarene. William Penn remains in Rosemont Sunday, facing Madonna (Mich.) at 8 a.m. and Roosevelt at 10:30 a.m.
The Statesmen coaching staff used the first contest to get some of the reserve players more time on the diamond. Despite the loss, William Penn showed strong depth, being outhit just 16-10.
The Cougars scored the game’s initial five runs, doing so through their first four frames. The navy and gold finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth as Charley Geguzis (Sr., Williamsburg, Iowa, Business Management) singled home Bailee Rinn (So., Omaha, Neb., Biology).
SXU got the run right back, but WPU continued to battle and trimmed the deficit to three with a pair of fifth-inning runs. A single by Crystal Warren (Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Secondary Education) drove in Brianna Talamantes (Jr., San Pedro, Calif., Secondary Education), while Ella Pierce (Jr., McClelland, Iowa, Business Management) also touched home plate a bit later.
Unfortunately, that was all the Statesmen could muster as Saint Xavier tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth frame.
Crystal Warren went 3-for-4, while Nayely Martinez (Jr., Carson, Calif., Business Management) tallied a pair of base knocks as well. WPU purposely went deep into its bullpen, utilizing four hurlers with Madisyn Tracy (So., Joplin, Mo., Nursing) having the best outing. The sophomore tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up just one hit in her appearance.
“We decided to go with pitcher-by-committee against Saint Xavier, giving several individuals some innings,” Head Coach Laura North said. “They all got some valuable experience. Although we lost, the game allowed for some growth, especially with our staff. I am pleased with how we hit, making adjustments on offense.”
The Statesmen led the entire way against the Tigers, but did not put the game away until the final inning. Knotted in a scoreless tie through three frames, WPU finally got all the way around in the fourth when an error allowed Rinn to come in.
Crystal Warren then produced a one-bagger than plated Emily Winkler (So., North Platte, Neb., Exercise Science) in the fifth. The 2-0 advantage held until the top of the seventh, but the Statesmen blew the proverbial top off with a six-run frame.
Allyson Stewart (Sr., Delta, B.C., Nursing) scored on a passed ball, while Crystal Warren and Geguzis both went the final 60 feet on based-loaded walks. Abby Wilson (Sr., Calgary, Alberta, Nursing) was driven in by a Talamantes single, while Chelsey Huff (Jr., Douds, Iowa, Exercise Science) helped her own cause with a single that scored Laila Smith (Fr., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education).
WPU, which posted a 10-8 advantage in hits, was patient at the dish and drew an impressive 11 walks, including two by Wilson.
Stewart and Talamantes both posted two hits, while Huff earned the complete-game victory. She allowed three runs (all in the bottom of the seventh) on eight scattered hits.
“This was a good win to end the day,” North said. “Chelsey kept their hitters guessing, while the defense continued to be solid. Our hitters were very disciplined and got better each inning, putting a lot of pressure on the opposition. Giving our pitching some wiggle room with a few runs was a big key to our success.”
