William Penn Battles in Arizona

William Penn University Athletics

William Penn University Athletics

by Wade Steinlage

Tucson, Ariz.–The Statesmen softball team came back with a collective tan (and/or sunburns), but unfortunately did not enjoy its trip very much as it struggled in three busy days as part of its spring break trip.

WPU (6-10) opened the week with three games on Monday, falling 11-3 (6 innings) to Aquinas, winning 9-7 over Mount Marty, and winning 12-1 (5 innings) over Grace (Ind.).

On Tuesday, the Statesmen fell 5-3 to Olivet Nazarene, 15-0 (5 innings) to #10 Indiana Wesleyan, and 4-3 to Concordia (Neb.). Finally, on Wednesday, William Penn lost 4-3 to Northwestern and 12-8 to Presentation.

Aquinas 11, WPU 3

The navy and gold were even at 2-2 with Aquinas after two innings, but their foe pulled away in the late innings. The Statesmen were outhit 8-2 with Dalaney Bice (So., Woodward, Iowa, Human Services & Psychology) hitting a home run.

Katie Springer (Jr., Riverside, Iowa, Undecided) struck out four batters in a 5 1/3-inning start.

WPU 9, Mount Marty 7

The Statesmen scored seven of their runs in the opening two frames, headlined by four in the first. It was a poorly-defended game with the teams combining for 12 errors (five by WPU).

Chyanne Koko (Sr., Waianae, Hawaii, Physical Education) and Shelby Copley (Jr., Denver, Colo., Secondary Education) were both 2-for-4; both had home runs. Koko drove in two runs and scored three times, while Copley brought in three. Bice also rounded the pads twice.

Copley tossed four strikeouts as well in three innings of work.

WPU 12, Grace 1

William Penn outhit Grace 12-3, including a team-high three hits by Koko. Bice, Sonia Reddy (So., Tracy, Calif., Exercise Science), Hayley Freestone (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev., Business Management), and
Nicole Flatley (Jr., Santa Maria, Calif., Psychology) all recorded two base knocks each as well.

Bice, who hit another homer, matched Koko and Freestone with three runs apiece, while Roxanna Jensen (Sr., Coto de Caza, Calif., Psychology) tallied two RBIs. Reddy and Bice both finished with three runs scored and Copley touched home plate twice.

Koko earned the complete-game win, managing two strikeouts against one walk.

Olivet Nazarene 5, WPU 3

The navy and gold rallied with three runs in the final two frames, but could not make up the entire difference. Both sides had eight hits with Koko guiding the team with three.

Springer struck out four (one walk) in the setback.

Indiana Wesleyan 15, WPU 0

Four different players had one hit, while IWU ended up with 14 base knocks. Karlee-Rose Perry (Jr., Puyallup, Wash., General Biology) had four strikeouts and Copley added two more in relief.

Concordia 4, WPU 3

WPU led 3-1 entering the bottom of the sixth, but gave up three runs and could not rally back in the seventh.

The Statesmen held a 9-7 edge in hits with Jensen going 3-for-4 and Copley finishing 2-for-3. Koko went the distance in the circle with three strikeouts and one walk.

Northwestern 4, WPU 3

A four-run fifth inning by NWC stunned William Penn. The team attempted to come from behind with two runs in the sixth, but ended up one run short.

For the second game in a row, the Statesmen lost despite tallying a 9-7 edge in hits. Jensen and Lexi Resa (Fr., Liberty, Mo., Biology) each produced two hits.

Springer kept her squad close with seven Ks against three walks.

Presentation 12, WPU 8

Despite scoring in four different frames, William Penn could not overcome a 10-run third by Presentation.

The navy and gold were outhit 15-11 with Reddy, Bice, and Resa all posting two base knocks each. Bice, who had three RBIs, and Copley, with two RBIs, both homered, while Bice and Resa rounded the pads twice.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Lamoni Wednesday to face Graceland in its Heart of America Athletic Conference opener. The doubleheader begins at 3 p.m.

Posted by on Mar 12 2018. Filed under College Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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