Strong Offensive Showing Powers Statesmen to Two Wins
Kansas City, Kan.–The William Penn baseball team played an abbreviated slate this weekend due to weather cancellations, but finished their short trip with two victories over the Columbia Cougars and Saint Mary Spires.
WPU 6, CC 3
The Cougars struck first with a run in the bottom half of the first, but Nick George (So., Sarnia, Ontario) was able to limit the scoring through the next two frames. In the top of the fourth, the Statesmen had an answer, as back-to-back doubles from Alex Fisher (Sr., Sydney, Australia, Biology) and Soren Graversen (Jr., Calgary, Alberta, Human Services) evened the score at one.
Columbia answered with two more in the home half of the fourth to chase George, but WPU answered back quickly. Trevor Dooley (So., Prole, Iowa, Computer Science) and Tanner Bedier (Jr., Bondurant, Iowa, Industrial Technology) opened the fifth with a pair of singles, and after a bunt put them both in scoring position, Jameson Hart (Sr., Sarnia, Ontario, Sports Management) delivered a big two-RBI knock to once again tie the game at three.
The game remain knotted 3-3 as Stetson Denning (Jr., Queens Creek, Ariz., Sports Management) held the Cougars at bay. In the top of the seventh, Bedier got things going with a single, and Hart was walked two batters later. Fisher hustled out an infield single to load the bases for Graversen, who came through in a big way, clearing the bases with a double to put the navy and gold ahead 6-3. Denning worked himself into some trouble in the seventh, but escaped unscathed to close out the win.
Graversen was the hero on offense with his four-RBI performance, including the game winning hit. Bedier turned in a 3-3 performance and scored twice, while Fisher crossed the plate twice as well.
George worked three innings, seeing heavy traffic but only allowing three runs while striking out four. Denning earned the victory for his four strong relief innings, allowing only four runners to reach base.
WPU 10, SMU 3
After beginning the first game of the day relatively slow offensively, the Statesmen got off to a hot start in game two. Tim Jean (So., Libertyville, Ill., Public Accounting) worked a walk to leadoff the game, and Dooley singled him to third. Bedier continued his hot-hitting afternoon with his fourth hit to drive in Jean, and Hart followed with a single to drive in Dooley. Bedier came around to score on a groundout later in the inning, giving WPU three runs in the opening frame.
WPU piled on four more in the second to take a commanding 7-0 lead following an RBI each from Bedier, Hart, Fisher, and Nathan Jessell (Fr., Napa, Calif., Sociology). Tyler Gregory (Sr., Peoria Heights, Ill., Exercise Science) danced around traffic all afternoon, but limited the Spires to just three runs, and the Statesmen cruised through the rest of the game, winning by a margin of seven.
Gregory allowed nine baserunners in 3.2 innings, but limited Saint Mary to just three runs. Brian Thomas (So., Shingle Springs, Calif.) earned the win in relief, turning in a dominant 3.1 innings by allowing just a single walk and striking out four.
Bedier tallied his second three-hit performance of the day, coming around to score after all three hits while driving in two. Hart and Fisher each had multi-RBI performances as well, and five different Statesmen finished the game with multiple hits as William Penn outhit Saint Mary 13-6.
“The boys hit the ball well,” said Head Coach Mike Laird. “Graversen had a huge bases-loaded double in the top of the seventh to break the 3-3 tie against Columbia.”
What’s Next: The Statesmen have a four game series next weekend in Illinois against the Trinity Christian Trolls. The games are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, with first pitch on both days slated for 1 PM.
