Statesmen Survive to Keep Postseason Heart Beating
William Penn University Athletics
Peosta–The William Penn baseball team blew out to a huge lead, but had to hold on in the final inning to keep its dim postseason light shining with a 12-10 win over Clarke in Midwest Collegiate Conference play Friday.
Even with the win, the Statesmen (18-24, 11-11 MCC) have a major uphill climb on Saturday. The program currently sits 1.5 games behind both Waldorf and Iowa Wesleyan (13-10) and will need to sweep the Crusaders AND have either the Warriors or Tigers lose to qualify for the league’s postseason tournament.
The visitors got on the board immediately with three runs in the top of the first, highlighted by a two-run triple by Randall Packard (Sr., Forestville, Calif., Cal State-Monterey). Evelio Ahumada (Sr., Hacienda Heights, Calif., Citrus CC) added an RBI single.
Clarke (11-29, 5-17 MCC) cut the deficit to 3-2 in the third, but the Statesmen responded with another in the fourth and then five more in the sixth to lead 9-2. Packard had another triple, this time bringing in three runs. Just like in the first, Ahumada also had a run-scoring single in the fifth.
The offense concluded its splurge with three more tallies in the seventh, including RBI singles by Stanley Muller (Sr., Tucson, Ariz., Cochise CC) and Julio Riojas (Jr., Hampton, Ill., Carl Sandburg CC) and a run-scoring double by Ahumada.
The ten-run advantage seemed more than safe, therefore starting pitcher Jorge Quezada (Jr., San Ysidro, Calif., Castle Park HS) was relieved of his duties. He picked up the win to go to 7-4, limiting the home team to just two runs (both earned) on six hits. The junior struck out ten with one walk.
Unfortunately, the lead was not safe as Clarke unloaded on William Penn’s relievers, scoring twice in the eighth and six more times in the final frame.
Jayme Mueller (Jr., Mundelein, Ill., College of Lake County CC) stepped onto the mound with one out recorded and the bases loaded. He continued the squad’s tough run, giving up a two-run double to the first batter he faced in the ninth, making the score 12-10. The junior closed it out, though, by getting a strikeout and a flyout to earn his first save of the year.
The teams combined for 33 hits (18-15 WPU) and 21 bench players used.
Ahumada paced the navy and gold with a 5-for-5 showing (three RBIs), while Mueller was 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Packard finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs, while Muller was 2-for-5 with two runs. Daniel Wehr (Sr., Sigourney, Sigourney HS) also rounded the bases twice.
The teams conclude their regular seasons Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
