William Penn Just Under .500 on Spring Break Trip
William Penn University Athletics
Tucson, Ariz.–The Statesmen baseball team experience both good and bad moments against quality competition on its spring break trip last week.
William Penn (7-7) went 4-6 in the Grand Canyon State.
March 3
Illinois Tech 7, William Penn 2
William Penn 4, Illinois Tech 3
Kyle Mauricio (Jr., Arden Hills, Minn., Physical Education) tallied two of his team’s eight hits in the opener, but the Statesmen gave up nine. It was a very rough start to the trip for William Penn as Josh Ruiz (Jr., Chula Vista, Calif., General Mathematics) not only took the loss in the first contest, but suffered a season-ending injury in the process. Brock Simon (Jr., Wauconda, Ill., Biology) struck out three in relief.
The Statesmen avenged the opening loss by outhitting their foes 10-7, including two hits each by Brian Williams (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Physical Education) and Joel Medina (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Sociology). Medina finished with two RBIs, including bringing home Nathan Wood (Sr., Tucson, Ariz., Business Management) on a walk-off single.
Jared Shoning (Fr., Des Moines, Iowa, Business Management) was solid in his starting role, striking out six in five frames. He did not figure into the decision, however, nor did Jacob Logan (So., Galesburg, Ill., Psychology) who had three strikeouts in relief. Kyle Maldonado (Jr., Centerville, Iowa, Physical Education) took the win with a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning. The junior improved to 2-0.
March 4
Morningside 3, William Penn 1
William Penn 9, Morningside 4
Morningside held an 8-7 margin in base knocks in the opener, while Stan Simmons (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y., Physical Education) paced the navy and gold offense with two hits and the team’s lone run.
Danny Erece (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education), who posted six Ks in 4 1/3 innings, was saddled with the loss, while Corey Lathram (So., Brentwood, Calif., Physical Education) tallied three strikeouts out of the bullpen.
William Penn’s plate presence elevated in the second meeting against the Mustangs with a 13-7 advantage in hits. The top four batters in the lineup did most of the damage, finishing 9-for-17. Simmons blazed the trail with three hits and three runs scored, while Mauricio, Williams, and Julio Riojas (Sr., Silvis, Ill., Physical Education) all added two base knocks. Jayme Mueller (Sr., Mundelein, Ill., Sociology) tallied three RBIs and Mauricio had two, while Williams and Mauricio both crossed home plate twice.
Three strikeouts were recorded by both the starter Kyle Bixler (Jr., Columbia Heights, Minn., Psychology) and Logan off the bench. Bixler matched Maldonado at 2-0.
March 7
Northern State (N.D.) 6, William Penn 4
Northern State (N.D.) 9, William Penn 3
The Statesmen had both Tuesday and Wednesday off, but the break unfortunately was not helpful as William Penn was swept against Northern State.
The squad was outhit 7-6 in the first contest (no players with multiple hits). Nate Iliff (Jr., North Oaks, Minn., Physical Education) took the loss (0-1) in a lengthy 5 2/3-inning outing, while Logan struck out two batters in another relief appearance.
Both sides produced eight hits in the nightcap, but Northern State was more opportunistic to complete the sweep. Williams, Roy Perez (Jr., Avondale, Ariz., Physical Education), and Chris Redfern (Sr., Stratford, Ontario, Digital Communication) all came up with two hits, while Williams also scored on two occasions. Northern State’s seven-run third inning was too much to overcome. Logan did his best to keep the Statesmen close by striking out five in a four-inning relief outing.
March 8
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 12, William Penn 11
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 15, William Penn 10
The second-to-last day of competition featured two high-scoring affairs with 30 hits in each. William Penn lost that category 16-14 in the first game and 18-12 in the second.
In the opener, the Statesmen rallied to take the lead in the top of the sixth, but failed to keep it. Simmons and Williams both managed three hits, while Mauricio, Mueller, and Medina reached twice via base knocks. One of Mueller’s hits cleared the fence for a grand slam, the team’s first home run of 2013. Medina wrapped up the contest with three RBIs, while Williams and pinchrunner Dante Archuleta (Fr., Brighton, Colo., Physical Education) both touched home plate two times.
Dakota Wesleyan took a sizeable early lead in the next meeting and held onto it, in spite of eight errors. Simmons, Mauricio, Williams, Mueller, and Perez all posted two hits. Simmons, Williams, and pinchrunner Ryan Pinegar (Fr., Moravia, Iowa, Business Management) scored twice as well in the final setback of the week. Relief pitcher Mueller sat down three DWU players on strikes.
March 9
William Penn 13, Mount Marty (S.D.) 8
William Penn 8, Mount Marty (S.D.) 1
Six runs in the first frame put the navy and gold ahead and kept them ahead in Saturday’s initial matchup. William Penn, which finished with a 13-8 edge in hits, was led by Perez with three hits. Mauricio, Medina, and Wood all added two hits, while the foursome of Simmons, Mauricio, Williams, and Medina all brought in two runs. Simmons, Mauricio, Medina, Archuleta, and Wood touched all four pads. Maldonado earned the win and Logan notched three more strikeouts out of the pen.
William Penn only outhit Mount Marty 9-7 in the week’s finale and had to overcome four errors, but was still able to post its most-lopsided victory of the year.
Two hits came from Mauricio, Medina, and Enrique Alvarado (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology). Mauricio brought in four runners, while Williams and Medina had two RBIs. Alvarado also scored three times and Wood did so twice. Erece (1-2) claimed the win with four strikeouts in six frames.
