William Penn Finishes Long Week with Sweep of Wildcats
Baldwin City, Kan.–The Statesmen softball team capped a six-game week by taking both contests on the road against Baker in Heart of America Athletic Conference play Sunday.
WPU (24-18, 15-9 Heart) won by scores of 9-1 (6 innings) and 5-4. The squad closed its busy week with a 5-1 record, including sweeps over both Central Methodist (Thursday) and Baker.
The visitors took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first of the opener when a double by Laila Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Elementary Education) brought in Laila Gutierrez (Jr., Seminole, Texas, Business Management) and Marin Frazee (Jr., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science).
Frazee scored again in the top of the third after tagging up on a fly ball by Gutierrez, extending the advantage to 3-0.
The Wildcats (23-18, 11-11 Heart) got one run back in their half of the fourth frame, but the navy and gold pulled away in their next at-bats.
Mckenna Vasser (Fr., Rochester, Wash., Business Management) was moved to third on a single to left field by Gutierrez, and then during the same play, came around on an error by the left fielder. Frazee tagged up and scored on a sacrifice fly again, while Tori Smith (Jr., Olympia, Wash., Secondary Education) provided the biggest base knock of the inning and game with a three-run home run.
Laila Smith wrapped up WPU’s scoring with a sixth-inning single that plated Vasser. Laila Smith paced the offense with three hits and four RBIs, while William Penn ended up with eight total base knocks.
Tori Smith produced three RBIs, while Frazee scored on three occasions. The duo of Gutierrez and Vasser each touch the plate twice.
Austin Hitchner (Fr., McKenna, Wash., Secondary Education) kept BU at bay all game, allowing just one unearned run on four hits and two walks.
“Austin Hitchner threw a gem in the opener,” Head Coach Laura North said. “That is probably the best she has thrown all year, and it was just the kind of leadership we needed today. The offensive production for our whole team helped, obviously, but she really had a great outing.”
Both sides posted two runs in the first inning of the nightcap. Frazee came in on a double steal, while Gutierrez was driven in via a single from Leah Conlon (Fr., Sioux City, Iowa, Exercise Science).
Baker tallied three unanswered runs before Conlon again pushed Gutierrez across on a single in the fifth to knot the score at 3-3.
Still tied two innings later, Gutierrez rounded the pads one more time off a single by Laila Smith. Smith’s pinchrunner, Kya Butler (Sr., Newton, Iowa, Sports Management), extended the margin to two at 5-3 when she scored off a Tori Smith single to left field.
The hosts closed the gap to one in the bottom of the seventh, but were denied the comeback as they stranded runners at second and third.
William Penn owned an 11-6 advantage in hits, while both teams committed three errors.
Gutierrez was the hero at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Conlon and Rylee Riesberg (Jr., Ankeny, Iowa, Exercise Science) each went 2-for-3, while Conlon finished with two RBIs.
Of the four runs Tori Smith permitted in her complete-game victory, only one was earned. She struck out three batters, while walking three as well.
“We tried losing the second game by allowing three unearned runs,” North said. “However, the grit and determination from Tori Smith was evident. She refused to lose.”
“This team just straight-up wanted to win today,” North added. “They are sore and tired, but they just came to play and compete. It was a great weekend, coming home with three more wins.”
Next Up: William Penn returns to Oskaloosa next Friday to host Clarke in a Heart doubleheader at 1 p.m.
