William Penn Splits Double Dip with Grand View
William Penn University Athletics
Des Moines–Just over a week since it was swept at home by the Vikings, the Statesmen baseball team nearly returned the favor on the road in a Midwest Collegiate Conference doubleheader against Grand View Monday.
William Penn (13-11, 3-3 MCC) won the opener 5-1, but dropped the nightcap 2-1 (8 innings).
The navy and gold, who were outhit 9-4, took advantage of five Viking errors and five free passes (four walks, one hit-by-pitch) for the win in the first contest.
Grand View (10-10, 2-1 MCC) got on the board with one run in the bottom of the first, but the Statesmen did all of the scoring from there. Despite not posting a hit until the fourth inning, William Penn managed three runs in the third courtesy of two errors, three walks, and one hit-by-pitch.
Two insurance runs were added in the sixth with RBIs credited to Stan Simmons (Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y., Physical Education) and Jayme Mueller (Sr., Mundelein, Ill., Sociology).
Enrique Alvarado (Jr., Lancaster, Calif., Sociology) and Chris Redfern (Sr., Stratford, Ontario, Digital Communication) both scored twice in the opener.
Starter Danny Erece (Sr., Chula Vista, Calif., Physical Education) scattered eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four to improve to 2-2.
Corey Lathram (So., Brentwood, Calif., Physical Education) excelled in relief, giving up only one hit in 1 2/3 frames (one strikeout).
William Penn bettered the Vikings 6-5 in game two’s hits column and was helped by three errors. Unfortunately, the visitors struggled to plate those baserunners.
Julio Riojas (Sr., Silvis, Ill., Physical Education) led off the second inning with a single and then stole second base. He eventually scored the team’s lone run on a wild pitch.
Three more players reached scoring position, including Joel Medina (Jr., Palmdale, Calif., Sociology) getting to third in the seventh frame. None rounded the bases though as Alvarado paced WPU by going 2-for-3.
Jared Shoning (Fr., Des Moines, Iowa, Business Management) was perfect through four frames and finished with nine strikeouts (one walk) in 5 1/3 innings. He did not figure into the decision though.
GVU tied the contest in the fifth to force extra innings. Jacob Logan (So., Galesburg, Ill., Psychology) got into trouble in the eighth and had to hand the ball over to Lathram. The sophomore could not prevent the hosts from pushing the winning run across, however, as Logan was saddled with the loss to fall to 1-2.
Next: William Penn travels to Peosta this weekend to face Clarke in a pair of MCC doubleheaders. Saturday and Sunday’s twinbills both begin at 1 p.m.
